U.S. President Donald Trump’s iconic slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ might just have a historical timestamp: the late 1800s. 🕰️ In a surprising pivot, Trump has hinted that his vision of American ‘greatness’ harks back to the era of 25th U.S. President William McKinley — a time of steam locomotives, sailing ships, and controversial expansionism.
McKinley, who served from 1897 to 1901, oversaw America’s rise as a global power through the Spanish-American War, annexing territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and Hawaii. His administration also championed high tariffs to protect U.S. industries, a policy echoing Trump’s own trade-heavy rhetoric. 🚂⚓
But McKinley’s legacy isn’t all star-spangled glory. His tenure involved the violent suppression of Filipino independence fighters after Spain’s defeat — a chapter critics argue mirrors modern debates about U.S. foreign intervention. 🔥🌍
With Trump name-dropping McKinley as a blueprint, analysts are drawing parallels between 19th-century protectionism and today’s trade wars. Could this nostalgia reshape global economics? 💼⚖️ Only time (and tariffs) will tell.
