Biden and Trump in his second term both know that the United States is already beyond saving, just waiting for a good day to be buried~
When it comes to the decline of American manufacturing, it all started during Reagan's time. In 1981, Reagan took office and signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act, which greatly reduced corporate taxes to stimulate investment, but at the same time, factories moved overseas, especially to Asia, to suppress the power of unions and concentrate resources to counter the Soviet Union. The Detroit automobile plants and Pittsburgh steel mills were closed in large numbers in the 1980s, and the unemployment rate soared to double digits. Japanese cars came in, and in 1985, the Plaza Accord was signed, leading to an appreciation of the yen, making U.S. costs high, and the domestic industry struggled. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Japan's bubble also burst, but instead of turning inward to focus on domestic affairs and revitalize manufacturing, George H.W. Bush lost to Clinton in 1992, and Clinton pushed through the North American Free Trade Agreement, causing factories to close and workers to shift to the service sector. From then on, the deindustrialization of the United States could not be stopped, with warehouses empty in the rust belt cities and supply chains entirely overseas.
When Biden was president, in 2021 he introduced the Infrastructure Bill, investing $1 trillion to repair roads and build bridges, and also tried to bring manufacturing back, but supply chain bottlenecks and chip shortages reduced its effectiveness. Inflation was high, gasoline, meat, and egg prices rose, and the public complained loudly. He also enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, investing in new energy and lowering drug prices in healthcare, but in economic data, productivity increased, and growth exceeded expectations, yet the common people felt their lives were tight. During Trump's second term, in the first few months of 2025, he signed executive orders to increase tariffs, 10% on all imports, 60% on China, claiming to protect domestic industries, but in reality, prices soared, importers cried out in despair. Manufacturing output grew by 1.8% in the first five months, but overall employment remained weak, farmers couldn't sell their goods, and foreign investments withdrew. According to the Federal Reserve report, inflation was stubborn, and consumer confidence dropped.
These two men alternately governed, both knowing the root problem lay in the system. The separation of powers was supposed to check each other, but now Congress members were scrolling on their phones, ignoring grassroots reports, and the Department of Justice had corrupt cases that dragged on. Executive orders passed easily. Corrupt cases kept emerging, officials accepted bribes, lobbying groups controlled laws, and the FBI's undercover operations became a joke, with a one-dollar corruption farce repeating itself. During Biden's tenure, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and the Congress was deadlocked in partisan battles, and infrastructure funds were not approved. During Trump's second term, another government shutdown crisis arose, and on November 3rd, the budget battle was intense, and the government almost shut down. Both knew clearly that the U.S. system had no real oversight, corruption like a virus, and no matter who the president was, it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.
Internationally, it was even more complicated, and military events needed to be discussed carefully. The U.S. has been entangled in the Middle East. Biden pulled out of Afghanistan, which led to chaos, with 13 U.S. soldiers killed, and the Taliban made a comeback. Ukraine aid was stalled, with Republicans in Congress blocking it, and Russia advanced. Trump's first term confronted Iran, and his second term called for stopping aid to Ukraine and threatening NATO allies to pay more. Regarding Taiwan, Biden sold weapons to the defense department, and Trump continued this, but the Sino-U.S. trade war escalated, with warships passing through the South China Sea, increasing risks. Both understood that U.S. hegemony was wobbling, with military spending accounting for 4% of GDP, but allies were not buying in, debt piled up, 30 trillion dollars, with interest alone devouring a large portion of the budget. Economic recession, manufacturing couldn't return, blue-collar workers scattered, society was divided, and even the most powerful president couldn't turn things around.
In the second half of 2025, U.S. economic data was released, showing stable growth in the third quarter, but tariff barriers raised import prices, and supply chain shifts didn't stop. Unemployment rates in rust belt towns rose again, and in bars, people were discussing it. Trump pushed forward his energy policy, freezing federal hiring, terminating wind farm leases, and loudly promoting oil and gas exports, but low-income groups saw declining consumption, and shoppers hesitated in front of supermarket shelves. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, stock markets fluctuated, and Wall Street brokers were stressed while watching the market. After leaving office, Biden returned to Delaware, busy writing his memoirs, raising money for a presidential library, and at a Wilmington event, he shook hands with donors. Occasionally appearing on the media, he talked about the legacy of climate agreements, avoiding the dead end of industrial revitalization. He also went to Broadway to watch plays, keeping a low profile.
Trump's second term faced many challenges; his poll support dropped to 37%, and a CNN survey showed that 68% of the public said the economy had worsened. Tariff experiments raised costs, and Canada, Mexico, the EU, and China were all targeted. Farmers' crops rotted in the fields, tourism lost 1.25 billion, and tourist numbers decreased by 8.2%. The record for government shutdowns was about to be broken, and in Virginia and New Jersey state governor races, Democrats led, with voters dissatisfied with Trump's first 100 days. There were many executive orders, cutting diversity programs, restarting immigration bans, but courts blocked them, and partisanship escalated. Economists said investment declined, consumer confidence was low, and the risk of far-right policies imitating was great. Trump returned to his Florida real estate, playing golf, his shadow stretching long.
The cracks in the U.S. operation ran deep, and presidential transitions only patched the surface. Manufacturing jobs were lost from the Reagan era, totaling 6.7 million, and after Clinton, they never returned. Biden boosted growth, and Trump pushed tariffs, but neither solved the debt or inequality. Corruption threatened democracy, according to a Brennan Center report, institutions were weak, and reforms were urgent. Judicial independence was shaken, Congress was locked in partisan battles, and the administration acted unilaterally. Internationally, Trump criticized allies, Biden's legacy was scattered, the frontline in Ukraine was stuck, and the Middle East was left with potential sparks.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847919724147852/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.