One-sentence summary: David Frum draws a historical parallel between Robert Taft’s infamous “eat less” comment and the Trump administration’s rhetoric defending tariffs, arguing that tariffs disproportionately harm the middle class while benefiting the wealthy.
David Frum begins by recalling the Republican victory in the 1946 elections, which was fueled by voter frustration over inflation and economic instability. The GOP’s subsequent expectations for a presidential win in 1948 were upended in part due to Senator Robert Taft’s ill-fated remark about the rising cost of food. During a press conference in 1947, Taft suggested that Americans should simply “eat less” in response to inflation, a statement that led to widespread ridicule and political fallout, ultimately contributing to his failure to secure the Republican nomination.
Frum connects Taft’s misstep to the current rhetoric surrounding Trump’s tariffs. Key Trump officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have dismissed concerns over rising consumer prices, arguing that cheap goods are not essential to the American dream. Trump himself has acknowledged an upcoming “period of transition” but remains steadfast in his support for tariffs.
Unlike Taft, who merely commented on economic hardships he didn’t cause, Trump’s tariffs are an intentional policy that disproportionately harms the middle class and poor while benefiting the wealthy. His administration promotes tariffs as a way to shift government financing from domestic income taxes-borne mostly by the rich-to tariffs, which function as a hidden tax on consumers.
Trump’s tariffs are also sold as a panacea for various geopolitical and economic issues, from combating Chinese currency manipulation to stopping the flow of fentanyl. However, Frum argues that these justifications are inconsistent and lack logic, pointing out that tariffs on Canadian aluminum or Mexican glass do little to address concerns with China. He also criticizes Trump’s contradictory trade policies, such as imposing tariffs on Australia despite its military cooperation with the U.S.
Ultimately, Frum characterizes Trump as a deceptive leader who makes contradictory promises, while his Cabinet officials gradually reveal the true burden of his policies-an economic strain on ordinary Americans masked by nationalist rhetoric. He warns that, much like Taft’s ill-fated remark, the administration’s dismissive attitude toward economic hardships may have political consequences.
Frum, David. “The Trump-Tariff Advice: Eat Less.” The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2025, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/trump-tariff-advice-eat-less/682079.
Key Takeaways:
- In 1947, Senator Robert Taft’s advice to Americans to “eat less” amid rising food prices damaged his political career and helped derail his presidential ambitions.
- The Trump administration’s rhetoric on tariffs echoes Taft’s mistake, dismissing concerns about rising consumer costs.
- Trump’s tariffs disproportionately affect the middle and lower classes while benefiting the wealthy by shifting government financing from income taxes to tariffs.
- The administration promotes tariffs as a solution to various issues, but their logic is inconsistent and often contradictory.
- Trump’s officials are revealing the real cost of his policies, which could have political consequences similar to Taft’s blunder.
Most Important Quotations:
- “We should eat less … eat less meat and eat less extravagantly.” – Robert Taft
- “The American dream is not ‘Let them eat flat-screens.’” – Scott Bessent
- “These policies are the most important thing America has ever had. It’s worth it.” – Howard Lutnick
- “Less for you, more for us.” – David Frum’s characterization of Trump’s tariff policy
Word count of summary: 415
Word count of supplied input: 1,132
Model version: GPT-4-turbo
Custom GPT used: Summarizer 2