"Unpacking Trump’s Controversial Assertion: Did Tariffs Truly Make America the 'Richest' Nation?"

Trump's assertion that tariffs made the U.S. its "richest" during the late 1800s is misleading. Today's GDP per capita significantly outpaces that era. Economists argue tariffs weren't the main growth driver, with factors like immigration and productivity playing larger roles. The notion of tariffs replacing income tax is mathematically impossible.