Trump’s ‘Made In America’ Campaign Has A Big Problem
President Trump’s “Made in America” week was doomed from the start. In survey after survey, Americans claim that they care whether their shoes, toasters or cellphones are American made. Their actual spending habits, however, tell a different story. American shoppers want a good deal. And when they shop, everything other than price tends to be a distant second on the list of priorities. A Reuters-Ipsos poll out this week found 69 percent of people surveyed said price is “very important” when they buy something. Only 32 percent said making sure something is made in the United States is “very important” to them. The poll was done online, but research consulting firms and other polls finds similar results. Walmart executives understand price is king for most American consumers, and they’ve used that knowledge to build one of the world’s most valuable companies: “Our customers tell us that where products are made is most important second only to price,” a Walmart spokesman said when asked whether Americans care if something is made in the United States, China or elsewhere. Trump keeps talking up “Buy American, hire American.” It’s part of his plan to create the most jobs of any U.S. president yet. He brought a firetruck to the White House lawn all the way from Wisconsin this week to try to promote U.S. products. He jumped in the driver’s seat, grinning and giving the media a big thumbs up. Many have pointed out that Trump’s words don’t match his actions. Read more at The Washington Post.
