Op-ed:

Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss...Part 1

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com   

It is my opinion that we...as in we Republicans...are going to lose both the House and the Senate come November's midterm election. And it's not because, as many will claim, that history has shown more times than not that the sitting president's party does lose total control at midterm time, but that in this particular case it will be because of what I truly believe to be President Trump's misguided economic policies in relation to his promises made that still have not been kept (the crux of this article), and also his foreign policy blunders...blunders like the ever growing unpopularity of the war with Iran (the crux of next week's Part Two).

And so I begin on the economic front where Trump's failures can be seen almost daily in one of our nation's key economic indicators, as in the Stock Market. Exactly how so... because the Stock Market directly reflects what is known as “consumer confidence.” Simply, this means that when folks feel confident in how our nation's economy is trending...when what's called a “Bull Market” has taken hold...the American consumer does tend to spend more money which, in turn, boosts our nation's GDP...as in the “Gross Domestic Product”...a good thing indeed.

However, when the Stock Market enters into what's called a “Bear Market” phase consumers do tend to cutback on spending. Why so...because the Stock Market is then considered by most economists to be “unstable”...as in up one day, then down the next day... primarily do to how the market itself is being affected by fluctuating oil prices...which usually means a rise in "per barrel" oil prices. And when you couple that with rising interest rates, the midterms today surely do not look good for the Republican side of the aisle.

In fact, numerous leading economists here in the U.S...along with leading economists overseas...all seem to agree that the Stock Market will remain “unstable” until the Iran War is over...surely not good news on the economic front here at home. And when you couple that with the fact that while Donald Trump was a successful real estate builder and contractor...no one can or should deny that...when one is President of the United States one needs to actually know how to not only play the game of politics, but that the "business of the government” differs greatly from private sector business...private sector as in business for profit. 

And while Trump obviously did private sector business well and made lots of money doing so, his mistake was in thinking that he could use his private sector business knowledge and savvy, and actually just transfer it over into the “business of the government.” Sorry folks, but that is not how it works as witnessed by Trump's rise in tariffs levied against countries who have been long time U.S. friends, allies, and trading partners.

Remember, in Trump's attempt to bring down the national debt...I'll get into that in a bit...the countries seeing a raise in their tariffs had to raise the prices on the goods they sold to the U.S. simply to cover not only Trump's tariff increase itself, but in order to make even a marginal business profit as well. And who then became the unhappy recipients of a monetary increase in those countries goods...surely not our federal government...but we the American consumer. Not a smart move on Trump's part I'd say even with the national debt lowering being the reason given as to why he did what he did tariff wise.

Let me explain. First, one needs to know as fact that at the beginning of September 2026, the U.S. national debt was $40.10 trillion...the largest in United States history... with $32.42 trillion of it being held by “We the People. ” And technically this means that each and every one of us now owes a whopping  $119,713 to the federal government. Let that number sink in.

 

So how exactly does the federal government even start to begin to collect each of our individual share of those so much needed monies...simply through federal income and payroll taxes...which unfortunately always seem to go up...and which in turn the federal government uses to service interest payments, and then to fund necessary governmental operations.

But here is where it gets a bit sticky, as in can the national debt instead be remedied or even negated by what is simple “numbers shifting” on paper...remember “numbers shifting” is not uncommon on the federal government level no matter which party is in power. And “numbers shifting” is something I have always claimed could be done without the raising of tariffs while most thought me wrong...but as it turns out I was indeed right all along.

Let me again explain. While Trump choose to raise the tariff...he's no Regan after all...the fact is...and he had to know this or was told this...the raise in tariffs did not need to be done. Yet he went ahead and did it anyway, thus making numerous enemies of some of America's long time allies and friends (Canada for one), all while we consumers paid for the raise in tariffs every time we went grocery shopping or pumped gas. 

Simply, our president knowingly and willingly chose “We the People” to help in his paying down the national debt, and way too many American's pocketbooks are clearly still hurting because of this misguided action taken by “Mr. Art of the Deal”...taken because he clearly did not understand that the 'business of the government' is a completely different animal than private business dealings.

And by the way, since Trump first became president, when you add both of his terms in office together, to date this man has added a combined total of roughly $11.6 trillion to the national debt. Interesting indeed, and yet he still had the gall to add increasing the tariffs so that “We the People” would actually be paying for the tariffed countries having to increase the prices on their goods sold here in the U.S.

So now let me explain exactly how...with but two examples out of many...the aforementioned “paper shifting” to bring down the national debt actually could have been done minus Trump's need to raise tariffs which directly affects our pocketbooks every time we go shopping...something that now will most likely be remembered by many come November's midterm election. 

Simply, what is perfectly legal “paper shifting of numbers” could indeed have been done through what's known as “financial engineering, accounting revaluations,and strategic monetary adjustments”...all of which are fiscal and monetary techniques used by our and other governments to fund, optimize, and/or obscure the true cost of said government's spending...which if utilized correctly could have actually helped to bring down the national debt minus Trump's need for an increase in tariffs...which directly has negatively affected the American consumer...with no tax increases or government spending cuts needed as well.

Basically, and in simpler terms, what this process does is “shift numbers across balance sheets to erase obligations, engineer debt-free liquidity, and/or dilute what's refereed to as the debts structural weight.” Trump both as president and as a successful businessman should have known about this.

And then there's also this little piece of not talked about information. Trump could have well helped to lower the national debt not by going the tariff route, but by using what some American economists lovingly refer to as the “nuclear option”...which in this case means a “Gold Reserve Revaluation.”

And once again let me explain, and start with the fact... which most don't know...that the U.S. Treasury holds over 261 million "troy ounces"* of physical bars of gold

...mainly at Fort Knox...with said gold being listed on the government's books at the “historic, statutorily fixed rate” of just $42.22 per ounce, thus equaling roughly $11 billion in value. However, if the statutory price were to be upgraded to what is current market value...for example between $3,400 to $5,000+ per ounce...the Treasury would garner an on paper gain of between $850 billion to $1.3+ trillion.

So how exactly would that monetary gain actually help in the lowering of the ever increasing national debt? As per the “Gold Reserve Act of 1934,” the Treasury can issue what is called “gold certificates” to the Federal Reserve which would show what are the now upgraded gold value numbers, thus allowing for a legal shifting of the raised numerical credit to the Treasury itself, who in turn could then “paper shift” the now newest numerical values to the specific areas where they could help the most...like, for example, to help pay down the national debt. And it would do so without the need to increase tariffs, which as I explained earlier, actually puts the monetary burden on the American consumer, and not just on the countries whose tariffs were being raised.

But to be honest here I am not an economist by any stretch of the imagination nor do I pretend to be one, but I do know simple math and how numbers work. And in my world 2+2 still = 4...but maybe in Trump's decision making world...maybe in the political world especially at election time or when campaign promises could not be kept let alone be met...it does not. Guess we'll find out next month come midterm time. Case closed.**

_____________________________ 

Footnotes 

* A troy ounce of physical gold is a specialized unit of measurement used to weigh precious metals, equal to 31.1034 grams (or about 480 grains), and is about 10% heavier than a standard kitchen or postal ounce (which weighs 28.35 grams). Whenever financial news or gold dealers quote a price "per ounce" of gold, silver, or platinum, they mean a troy ounce.

** Part 2 of Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss specifically in regards to how the Iran War might well affect the midterm election will be published next Monday, October 12th.                               

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.    

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, Iran's Regime - Low on Time, Out of Leverage, Long on Desperation.

***************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6 from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss'; ' 'Iran's Regime - Low on Time, Out of Leverage, Long on Desperation.'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

  

[[[ Earlier today I posted this on some social media sites: "If...and I only say 'if'...the feds raise the interest rate today...which would be the first raise in three years...with the announcement coming at 2pm EST...then chances are that we on the Republican side can kiss the midterms bye-bye. Why so...because an interest rate hike...even a small hike...would raise the cost of living for tens of millions of Americans, thus sending Trump's current economic policies straight into the toilet...as if his ridiculously high tariffs didn't already raise consumer prices enough. So, the best we can realistically hope for is that the rate at least remains steady, or that shock of all shocks, that said rate drops even a minuscule amount. For many Americans that would surely help them a lot, and as a possible added bonus help save the midterms for our Republican side. At 2pm EST we will know the answer one way or another."

 

And here now is what I posted the minute the rate number was announced: "BREAKING NOW...  Interest rates are going UP...yes UP... 1/4 of a point!!! We can now officially kiss the midterms bye-bye! The American people get screwed yet again courtesy of the first hike in 3-years, and it's on Trump's watch!!! And by the way, another raise in the interest rate is expected by year's end."

 

And here is a response I posted to one of my reader's comment, "A BIG part of this belongs to Trump as he was too busy trying to make deals with terrorists and make everything about oil than he was about working on the American economy! Oh how the Democrats must be celebrating "                                    

 

And might I also add that I believe that the problem since day one has been that "Mr. Art of the Deal"...as in President Trump...never really understood that the "business of government" is vastly different than real estate and construction business deals he was good at making. And so "We the American" people...are again on the losing end...so it's probably bye-bye midterms and maybe 2028 as well...that is unless some major changes are made starting like right now!" ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.  

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.   

...And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.” Read entire article here.

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.  

Let me start with these three facts. Fact One: I totally support our and Israel having gone to war with Iran. Fact Two: I voted for President Trump three times. Fact Three: I believe Trump has done amazingly well regarding the border, the illegal issue in general, and that he's for the most part been successfully tough on crime...drug and otherwise. But when it comes to the economy and the war with Iran I do have a few bones to pick.

And while in no way do I question President Trump's loyalty or love for our country, I do find that some of his choices and decisions have left me to wonder who exactly is he taking advice from, and more importantly...why.

The man who promised to fix the economy has really done nothing of note as prices at the pump and at the grocery store continue to rise, fallback a bit, then rise again. And it's not because of how the stock market or the oil industry itself responds to whomever is in control of the now morphed into “Strait of Hormuz” oil war with Iran, but is manly due to the fact that when you exceedingly raise tariffs on the countries we trade with, those countries in turn must raise prices on what they sell to we American consumers in order to pay for the imposed tariff increases that cut deeply into their all important profit margin.

Simply, our president seems not to understand that the success of the “Art of the Deal” in the real estate/construction market does not automatically result in one having success in both the global economic market, and in the game of war...most especially when deals brokered with an enemy are not the victory “We the People” had been promised and counted on.

The game of war, if played correctly, has for the most part obvious winners and losers, but sometimes we see the good guys having to leave the battlefield with their tails dragging behind them, so to speak, and it's not because they could not win the physical aspects of a given war, but because they were politically and militarily not allowed to do the job needed to win said war. Such is the case in regards to the Korean War which ended in a quasi-stalemate of sorts; the Vietnam War which if not an outright defeat, was not even close to being a victory; and not to be forgotten is Afghanistan where our then President Joe Biden willingly turned the country back over to the enemy, the Taliban.

Now for comparison, think back to the days of World War I and World War II when if not for U.S. entry into both wars we, at least those of us still alive, would probably be speaking either German or Japanese right now. But thankfully, those were the days when wars were fought to win with the enemy rightfully reduced to bended knee...a time when negotiating with the enemy was never an option...surrender or die was the only choice given.

And while some will say that the war with Iran we now find ourselves in is different than any other war we've previously fought in, because we're dealing with not only the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, but with hatred so overwhelming that it is being fueled on by both bloodlust and a religious calling...as in “jihad.” But please tell me how today's “jihad” now differs from Nazi Germany, the Third Reich, and of course the nefarious deportations, gas chambers, and ovens constructed to commit mainly, but not solely, Jewish genocide.

The difference, as I see it, is but two-fold. First, the “modus operendi” sees Nazi Germany's ovens vs. today's mega bombs and drones...coupled with the mindset that to die for the cause is now, for the IRGC, as much of an honored cause for Iran today as it was for Hitler and the Nazis, as well as for the Japanese kamikazes of the 1930s and 1940s.

And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.”

And that part has come to light courtesy of the 'Jerusalem Post” who reported last week that an older Iranian professor was able to get a letter smuggled out to Israel stating that, “The people of Iran are in a very bad psychological state and have little hope for the future,” and “are fearful that the sacrifices they made in demonstrating against the regime will be erased if US President Donald Trump makes a deal with Tehran.”And this is the very thing that I, and a growing number of Americans, fear as well.

So as this latest Iranian cease-fire deal now appears to be near “finalization,” as per Trump on “Truth Social,” the truth is that as I started to write this the negotiations were stalled yet again. Why so? First, because Trump's latest addition thrown into the peace deal mix now includes having the regions other Arab nations “simultaneously” signing onto the “Abraham Accords.” And while this is truly a noble idea...it is being presented as an all or nothing mandatory component...as in sign on or its back to bombs falling and bullets flying.

Threats might work for some Arab nations, but surely not for all. And besides, even if certain key Arab nations...like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan...did sign on to the “Abraham Accords”... which is highly unlikely...there remains no guarantee it won't be with fingers crossed behind their backs. And while most Arab nations are not terrorist supporting nations, they all remain bound to the words and discourse as laid down in the Quran.

Second, while a deal would bring peace with Israel at first, it does not mean said peace would be long lasting, as a untied Arab front would always pose a danger not just to Israel, but to we in the western world as well. Remember, the “Abraham Accords” are but a signed piece of paper...a promise brokered to help keep a snaky peace...and yet the Arab hatred for Israel and the Jewish people will not disappear overnight as it goes back thousands of years.

And third, can this deal's promised economic incentives override what is an ingrained mindset after the initial“glow” of peace wears off? Simply, can what would become a Middle East “economic power house”...driven mostly by oil...ever be truly accepted by both Israel and the sum of the western world? We need an answer to that before any deal is made, before any deal is signed, especially with Iran now demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition for even continuing these talks.

So while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the negotiations are "still a work in progress,” and that there is a “pretty solid thing on the table in terms of getting the strait opened," one Esmaeil Baghaei (a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry) said that, “Iran is ‌negotiating an end to the war but is not discussing its nuclear program,” and that even though “progress has been made” it does not mean that, “the signing of an agreement is imminent.”

And that says it all for what we now see is but a ping-pong type of back and forth game of vocalized word semantics being played between President Trump and his team of diplomats vs. what's left of Iran's hardline islamist regime. And the game got more interesting when last week Iran accused the U.S. of a “grave violation” of the ceasefire after the U.S. military initiated "self-defense strikes" against Iranian forces, but with measured "restraint."

Simply stated, no matter the media's discourse, the fact that Iran still stands, the fact that Iran has yet to be fully defeated and shows absolutely no sign of surrendering... unconditionally or otherwise...coupled with the fact that the Iranian people are still not free...in fact, their plight has been lost in the Hormuz oil shuffle...means “Houston we still have a problem.” 

A problem indeed, especially now as Trump's people and Iranian negotiators have supposedly reached an agreement...yet unsigned as I write this...regarding the 60-day “Memorandum of Understanding”...the very same “understanding” which would extend this current anything but true ceasefire...while starting negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program...the one issue which should never be negotiable as far as I'm concerned.

So just maybe the problem's solution is Israel to the rescue. Remember, Israel was ready to finish the job last summer, but Trump was decidedly against it. And now Trump says he is in “no hurry” to make a deal he seemed so anxious to make, and so the problem does remain. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved. 

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, The Forensic Flagging of a Dead Horse.

**************************************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok'; 'The Forensic Flagging of a Dead Horse'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

Op-ed:

Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

...And to that, with all due honor and respect I say, “No, Mr. President you are wrong.” Why so...because as a businessman you had to know that no juggling of numbers of “tariff” raised revenues would ever be large enough to significantly filter down to “We the People's” pocketbooks let alone bring down the gross national debt, the prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Simple math alone does dictate that to be fact.

Donald Trump's intentions and motives in focusing on the “tariffs” cannot be questioned for he truly did believe the issue needed to be addressed...which it certainly did...it was just that, in my opinion, his timing was off in doing so what with so many American's monetarily still hurting.

And now when you add that President Trump wants part of the income from the “tariffs” to pay $2,000 dividends in seven year annual increments to low and middle income Americans, he has ignored the fact that in doing so it would actually counter his original intention of the “tariffs” helping to bring down the growing...Read entire article here.

Op-ed:

Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

 The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

Let me begin by saying that I voted for President Donald J. Trump three times, and would vote for him a fourth time if it was constitutionally allowed. I also think that as president he has done an amazing job when it comes to securing our southern border, removing those here illegally, cracking down on crime in America's cities, cutting bureaucratic wasteful spending, and in his striving to bring global peace. However, here I must add that Donald Trump, in his position as president, is not perfect...nobody is...in regards to what are two areas of growing concern to many Americans, as in the economy and the Israel/Hamas ceasefire that is anything but a ceasefire let alone a pathway to lasting peace.

In this 'Part One' of what is a two part series, I will first focus on the economy. And with that said, remember back to the 2024 presidential campaign when then candidate Donald Trump promised to reduce government expenditures by eliminating certain agencies; slashing federal regulations; ending spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; and cutting what he called “fraudulent spending”...all of which were indeed promises kept. In fact, as per the U,S. Treasury Department, “year-over-year federal spending growth” has declined during Trump’s first year of this current term. Score one for our side I'd say.

Also during that same campaign, Trump promised to end inflation, lower prices at the grocery store and at the “ pump,” as well as lowering the national debt. Has any of that happened to a significant or lasting degree...in a word,“no.” And why not...because for President Trump the word “tariffs” seemingly took over all vestiges of economic logic. And while I do agree that the “tariffs” needed to be addressed as per Trump's rightfully stating that we were being “taken advantage” of for far too long in regards to “tariffs,” I did, however, state on day one when Trump's “tariff” proposal was announced...and got much flack for it...that I believed now was not the right time to address the “tariffs.” And my reason given as to why was that the economy needed to be addressed first as American families and workers were still financially hurting after the four disastrous Biden/Harris years.

In fact, I believed then as I do now that a better way to lower grocery prices overall, without having to resort to “tariffs,” would have been if Trump had initiated a countrywide effort to help increase the production of our own home grown food supplies. How so...by his fostering in both the concept of “fair competition,” while also addressing the food supply chains rightfully called “inefficiencies.” And this could have simply been done by Trump's easing, or outright eliminating, some of the still in effect overburdening regulations that stifle efforts to increase what is our domestic food supply.

Simply, if the supply of domestic goods is readily available and fairly priced, then the  consumers demand for cheaper made foreign goods will start to wain, thus leaving the “tariff” issue to safely be addressed at a later time.

Now as for the price at the ” pump,” that too is being affected by the newest Trump “tariffs.” How and why so...because just like with grocery prices, gas prices do tend to go up as “tariffs” increase, especially in regards to imported “refined products.” Simply, any increase in the cost of imported energy...in this case it's in regards to diesel gasoline and crude oil...does tend to see the consumer paying higher prices at the pump. And while prices, for a short time, did drop but mostly on “regular” gasoline, the price drop was but pennies per gallon. Translation: not enough dollar savings has been acquired to really help the average American consumer at the “pump,” especially with many cars now on the road still needing “high test” not “regular” gasoline.

Here's but one example. As I was writing this article, here in south Florida my husband just paid $3.52 per gallon for high test gasoline to fill his 22-gallon tank car, for a total of $77.44. We used to pay around $3.60 per gallon earlier this year when Trump took office for a total of $79.20. Simply, my husband saved but a mere 8 cents per gallon to fill up his tank for a grand total savings of $1.76 per tank full...a quite laughable savings I'd say...a savings that cannot even buy someone a full carton of eggs.

But in regards to both grocery and gas prices I'd be remiss if I didn't say that the economy...and everything else Trump inherited...was an economy in total shambles, which in and of itself should have put the economy front and center of the Trump agenda not the “tariffs” which, in my opinion, just make a bad situation even worse for many Americans.

But something that must not to be forgotten in this discourse is that, thanks to President Trump, inflation itself has come down a bit even while prices at the grocery store and at the “pump” are on the rise up again. And why...partially because of the “tariffs” as a fair amount of imported goods (like coffee, fruits, seafood, nuts, cheese, and beef for example) do stock America's grocery store shelves. Remember, “tariffs” are basically a tax on imported goods which the taxed countries then pass on to we consumers by a rise in a given goods price.

And to give additional credence to my previously stated “economy first” then the tariffs opinion, many leading economists...economists like Thomas Sowell, Jeremy Siegel, and Joseph Stiglitz (winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.)...have also opined that in Trump's imposing the “tariffs” before addressing what were the underlying economic conditions was a mistake. And why so...because in his focusing on the “tariffs” in regards to their being revenue generating, Trump believed that it would help to correct what he considered to be a U.S. “trade deficit” while also helping to bring down the national debt. But with a “trade deficit” simply meaning that one country buys more goods and services from another country than it sells to that given county, more monies flow out of the country to pay for the imports than comes into said country as a payment for the exports.

“The impact of imposing these tariffs will have the effect of depressing U.S. economic growth, contributing to a higher rate of inflation, and those effects will be worse if the other countries retaliate in kind.”                                          

- Marcus Noland, executive vice president of the 'Peterson Institute for International Economics'

Think of it this way, the raising of “tariffs” on imported goods...Trump's still economic focus...will in the end be passed on to we the American consumers courtesy of a price rise initiated by the countries supplying said goods. And why the increase...because those countries need additional revenue to offset the Trump imposed increase in “tariffs” in order for them to be able to afford to purchase American exported goods which could, in turn, actually lead to a rise in inflation.

Now add in that Trump believed that his “tariff” objectives would, in ten years time, see a four trillion dollar reduction in the national debt (numbers shifting on paper), but the truth is that these “tariffs” would have done nothing of substance to lower said debt. And how did I know this...because I knew that while “tariffs” do generate a certain amount of income, the amount they generate is but a small portion of what are much needed government revenues. And when coupled with the fact that “tariffs” typically raise billions, not trillions, of dollars in revenue, it was easy to surmise that the numbers themselves simply would not allow for a truly meaningful reduction in the national debt no matter the time limit placed. And this is exactly what I said would be the outcome as soon as Trump announced his “tariff” plan.

A background in rocket science is not needed to figure that outcome out, a simple understating that two plus two will always equal four serves the purpose well. 

So even with the “tariffs” that were already in place before President Trump's newest round of “tariffs” was announced, the fact remains that our national debt did continue to increase not decrease, and the real time numbers prove it.

One case in point is that as of early November 2025, the U.S.gross national debt registered at approximately $38.09 trillion which is a $2.18 trillion increase over 2024's gross national debt, with the corresponding average daily increase being around $5.97 billion. And while interest payments alone remain in excess of $1.2 trillion, this allowed the debt-to-GDP ratio to keep rising because “tariff” generated revenues only offer a temporary fluctuation in deficit relief.

Simple translation: you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul when the tangible monies needed to do so are simply not available...or in this specific case are but a fraction of what would be needed to meaningfully bring down the national debt.

And yet while the “tariffs” were and still are being touted by President Trump as a possible solution to some of America's and Americans money woes...and know he does so with good intentions...the average American still sees no long range benefits being filtered down to their personal pocketbooks. And many have come out to voice that very opinion including FOX News' very own Laura Ingram who, during a recent on air “Ingram Angle” interview, pressed President Trump on American voters' growing what she called “anxieties” about the economy, affordability, inflation, and rising grocery and gas prices, to name but a few. And when she brought up the “tariffs” Trump's response was that, “the economy is the greatest we've ever had” while dismissing polls and voter anxieties as but a “con job” or “fake.”

And to that, with all due honor and respect I say, “No, Mr. President you are wrong.” Why so...because as a businessman you had to know that no juggling of numbers of “tariff” raised revenues would ever be large enough to significantly filter down to “We the People's” pocketbooks let alone bring down the gross national debt, the prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Simple math alone does dictate that to be fact.

Donald Trump's intentions and motives in focusing on the “tariffs” cannot be questioned for he truly did believe the issue needed to be addressed...which it certainly did...it was just that, in my opinion, his timing was off in doing so what with so many American's monetarily still hurting.

And now when you add that President Trump wants part of the income from the “tariffs” to pay $2,000 dividends in seven year annual increments to low and middle income Americans, he has ignored the fact that in doing so it would actually counter his original intention of the “tariffs” helping to bring down the growing national debt. Why so...because as per the non-partisan “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget” (CRFB), the huge amount of monies being diverted via the payouts would push the national debt to 127% of the GDP by 2035, and possibly see it eventually rising to 134% of the GDP. Not good folks, not good at all.

Simply, the man, the president, I truly admire and was proud to vote for three times lost, in my opinion, his focus on exactly how to bring down the rising costs we Americans see on a daily basis in regards to grocery store prices and at the “pump.” Dwelling so deeply on the “tariffs”*  was not and is not the sole answer to our Biden/Harris inherited economic problems...the issue of the “tariffs” could have waited, and I'm glad that key economists on both sides of the political aisle are now saying exactly what I said months ago. I only hope, in my opinion, that this timing mistake does not affect the 2026 midterms in a negative way.

In “Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part Two,” (which will be published on Monday, December 1st, due to the Thanksgiving holiday), I will focus on a key foreign policy mistake President Trump made, and why it might well affect the 2028 presidential ticket...but for now, case closed.

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* Tariffs are a particularly bad way to raise revenue...a must read by The Brookings Institute 

Copyright © 2025 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

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For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, One Dumpster Fire After Another.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                        Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One'; 'One Dumpster Fire After Another'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.