President Donald Trump has often expressed admiration for William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, known for his advocacy of high tariffs to protect American industries. Trump, who calls himself a “Tariff Man,” has praised McKinley for making America prosperous through tariffs and foreign policies that expanded U.S. territories. However, historians, as reported by The Washington Post, caution that Trump’s understanding of McKinley’s legacy is somewhat incomplete and oversimplified.
McKinley, who grew up in Ohio during the 1840s, often heard his father lament about the negative effects of foreign competition on wages. As a politician, he became a staunch proponent of tariffs, aiming to protect American workers and industries from international competition. McKinley’s most notable tariff, the McKinley Tariff of 1890, raised duties on manufactured goods, making him a symbol of protectionism. Trump has frequently referenced McKinley’s success in using tariffs to boost the nation’s prosperity, citing him as “great but highly underrated” during his presidential campaign.
Trump’s praise of McKinley culminated in a statement during his inaugural address, where he proclaimed, “President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.” He also pledged to revert the name of North America’s tallest peak back to Mount McKinley, a name that had been changed to Denali in 2015 under President Barack Obama to honor Alaska Native culture.
Yet, historians caution that Trump’s view of McKinley’s tariffs may be oversimplified. The Washington Post reports that while McKinley’s tariff policies were certainly a part of America’s economic strategy, they weren’t the sole factor behind the country’s prosperity. Dartmouth College economist Douglas Irwin, who has studied McKinley’s tariffs, explains that the U.S. economy was already growing at a robust pace, averaging around 4 percent annually, long before and after McKinley’s presidency. “Tariffs were always high,” Irwin notes, “so it’s not like the tariff jump-started extra growth.”
In fact, the U.S. had been using tariffs as an economic tool since the Washington administration, and tariffs remained consistently high from 1861 to 1933. A key factor contributing to the nation’s prosperity during McKinley’s time was increased banking funds, rapid infrastructure development, and technological advancements like the telephone. Immigration also provided a vital labor force, helping fuel economic growth.
McKinley’s tariff legislation of 1890, while designed to protect U.S. industry, was deeply unpopular, particularly among consumers, who faced higher prices. In fact, the legislation was partly responsible for a major Republican defeat in the 1890 midterm elections. McKinley’s policies also indirectly contributed to the Spanish-American War in 1898, as tariff shifts on Cuban sugar exports played a role in escalating tensions between Cuba and Spain. The U.S. victory in the war led to the acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, expanding American influence on the global stage.
Trump has long admired McKinley’s expansionist foreign policies, particularly his role in the annexation of Hawaii and the acquisition of other territories after the Spanish-American War. Yet, The Washington Post points out that McKinley’s views on tariffs evolved during his presidency. As the U.S. industrialized, McKinley came to believe that the country would need open export markets and reduced tariffs abroad. This shift led McKinley to endorse the concept of “reciprocity,” where tariff reductions were negotiated with other countries in exchange for similar cuts.
Robert Merry, author of President McKinley: Architect of the American Century, explains that McKinley’s approach to international trade was far more cooperative than Trump’s. McKinley advocated for reciprocity treaties to lower tariffs on both sides, while Trump has leaned toward using tariffs as a tool of economic coercion, often threatening countries with punitive measures. Trump’s recent trade standoff with Colombia over deportation flights is just one example of his use of tariffs as leverage.
Unfortunately, McKinley’s vision for global trade and tariff reform was cut short when he was assassinated in September 1901, just after delivering a speech outlining his plans for reciprocal tariff agreements. While Trump continues to admire McKinley’s legacy, historians urge that a deeper understanding of McKinley’s policies reveals a more complex and multifaceted approach to both domestic and foreign trade.
