The Cost: Trump, China, and American Revival

by Maria Bartiromo, James Freeman

The world needs a strong America, and America needs an economic revival after the Coronavirus season of shutdowns. Can the playbook that resulted in the greatest job market in history put Americans back to work?From the first moments of his presidency, Donald J. Trump put US economic revival at the top of his agenda. Cutting red tape and slashing business tax rates made companies eager to locate in America again. A surge in corporate investment led to record numbers of US job openings. But there was also another force at work at the start of the Trump era, and it’s impossible to provide a fair accounting of Trump’s governance without noting the unique obstacles he’s faced. The President’s critics styled themselves “The Resistance,” as if they were confronting a tyrant at the head of an invading army rather than their duly elected President. Much of the media establishment regularly—and wrongly—accused him of betraying the country. Most disturbing was the resistance movement inside government, formed even before the 2016 election, which unleashed unprecedented surveillance against Donald Trump. The political and media warfare has never ended. Just as an impeachment case collapsed in the Senate earlier this year, the world was beginning to realize how large a threat the Chinese communist government had become—and what it had been hiding in Wuhan. The destruction caused by the coronavirus is the latest and greatest test for the Trump prosperity agenda. Once again the health and wealth of the world depend on US leadership for economic revival. This is the story of the man US voters chose to lead in 2016 and will soon consider to lead again.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good short summary of two things; the determined effort by the MSM and much of the DC establishment to undermine in any way possible the work of the Trump administration. That story has been told in a lot of places. The more important part of the book is the recitation of the genuine accomplishments of the Trump Administration, especially in the economic sphere. Growth really did take off after the 2017 tax bill and deregulatory effort. There really was a period pre-covid where the number of jobs exceeded the number of applicants leading to real growth in wages especially for those at the lower end of the spectrum. Energy policy resulted in energy independence.

That is not to say that the book could have covered a bit more about the horrible sense of disorganization in the Administration - since a lot of this was AAT (all about Trump) the Administration missed a lot of opportunities to make continuing changes which would be longer term. If the Biden Administration follows through on its tax and spending (and ultimately regulatory) policy proposals we'll reduce GDP growth significantly. (Note the last time Step UP basis was eliminated the results were so horrible that Congress reversed itself almost immediately.)

The one other part of the book which interested me was the discussion of COVID. Trump mistakenly made the crisis about him. But I think the evidence is that the choices made in the US exacerbated the crisis significantly including depriving many students of education (with some estimates of what that costs in long term productivity - and the estimates presented in the book are realistic).

I am absolutely sure that and TDS devotees will brush by the facts in this book or any other treatment of what actually happened in Trump, but at least this book clearly lays out a case for judging the real accomplishments and at least some of the failures of the administration.

[Jim Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this before the election but waited till after to read, basically a rundown of the Trump presidency over the last 4 years, we lived through it but some of the stuff you forget about and maybe do not know "the rest of the story" after the media stopped beating us with it

[Linda Galella]

To have this book released one week before our next National Election, could be beacon for those still undecided. As for others, it’s a clear and rather concise summary of the Trump presidency, from a mostly business perspective.

Maria Bartiromo and partner James Freeman, begin the book by clearly showing our 45th President is not part of the Washington political establishment. He rankles the swamp, media and his own party from day one, but fights tirelessly to fulfill campaign promises.

Chapter 2 is perhaps the most stark. After a no holds barred discussion of the Russian Hoax debacle, there’s a 12 page outline of day-by-day, key events that boils the three years down to prosecutable packages. The Department of Justice has some serious issues.

Other topics covered include: revitalization of business, tax cuts and over haul, our relationship with China, (2 full chapters plus lots more), Trump’s impact on the media and them on him, the COVID crisis, Biden/Bernie - economics and what’s the future hold.

As I mentioned earlier, much of this is presented from a business stand point. There’s not a lot left for “interpretation” as there are facts; how refreshing! Dollars, percentages, real impacts to real people on lives that matter. Of course, money is not all that matters but at least it’s one thing that can be checked and balanced, to some degree. It can also be followed when a trail is needed. The discussion on Biden’s economic plan and Bernie’s influences is 8 pages everyone should read VERY carefully.

Not much financial mumbo jumbo to ponder with this one, Bartiromo & Freeman have compiled an highly approachable and thoughtful book. Documentation comes from a variety of sources, not a single slant or company, lending to the veracity of its content. It’s well written, easy to read and professionally published. For this reader, it’s high time we rise up and count “The Cost”📚

[Gary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent assessment of the Trump Presidency, China, Mexico and the American economic revival.

[Arun Wagle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book talks about Trump greatness and how was a victim of various media outlets. I would have loved if the book depicted the good and the bad about Trump
presidency and Trump .
Avoid it.

[Manny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo is probably the only show I will watch on Fox. A very smart host from a financial perspective, she is also
a damn fine journalist. Bartiromo covers the Trump administration but focuses on the threat of China and the attempted coup of a duly elected President.

As I write this review, Joe Biden has been coronated the President Elect for 2020 election by the media. As is the typical MO, the Left and the State-Run (Left) Media, tells you, "There is nothing to look at here, move along". Anyone who states anything different from the media agreed upon talking points, is instantly banished from the "acceptable social person" category and considered "deplorable". This coming from the same people that pushed a fake Russia collusion, impeachment, obstruction, racist, xenophobic narrative for four years with impunity. We have sadly seen a corruption of the media and social media companies during Trump's last year. Although 2020 has been the worst year of my entire life, and although we saw unprecedented questionable actions by our state and city governments, that anyone, and I mean ANYONE, regardless of party affiliation should worry about. Additionally, we have seen reports of voting machines of which run particular software where high ranking Democratic Party Senators, Congresspersons, and political mouthpieces for the left have significant others and family as the executives and investors into the same. I find it interesting how the left in the U.S. say that Voter ID is racist. However I was speaking to a friend in Jamaica where it is predominantly Black people, they have to apply for a specific voter ID, different from your other IDs. How is this NOT racist there? Arguably, there is more poor poverty there than here in the US.

The China situation is real. They are a huge threat to our country. The destabilization in the U.S. caused by this political unrest puts us at risk. China does not want Trump in the WH for a second term because he is the ONLY POTUS that has put the needed pressure on them. They know for sure that a Biden administration would be a walk in the park and they could go back to their previous S.O.P. which included Intellectual Property theft, holding the U.S. hostage with manufacturing all of our goods, the funding of projects for other countries knowing they would be unable to repay, seizing control of shipping lanes which do not belong to them. The threat is very real and to see Mr. Biden's nonchalant attitude about China not being a threat is appalling and disturbing. He is either clueless or complicit, either one is bad, but I believe he is both.

Some of the information is repetitive for anyone that has been following the TDS this past four years. How the FBI higher-ups colluded and conspired with the Obama administration and other prominent three letter agencies to perform a coup, ironically today the left accuse Trump of attempting a coup because he is contesting the outcome. However, Hillary Clinton is on record telling Biden NOT to concede at all. I believe the left has come after Trump with such vengeance because he is not your typical politician. This man does not care about politics insofar as he is POTUS. He has outed them. They obviously do not want to face the consequences. The media will tell you there is not evidence however time and time again, the former CIA director, FBI Director and others at that level have come out on the media saying they have seen evidence and did not know about this or that, but while under oath and with the fear of purging themselves they say the complete opposite. If those who choose to NOT believe what the Right is saying about this, review the transcripts for yourself.

Bartiromo is a very effective reporter and is well connected both in Financial circles as well as the political ones. I recommend this book.

[Charles McCormick · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half Re-visits the Russia collusion farce!
Anyone not heard the details?
2nd Half examines China lies, Tianamen massacre
(2500-10,000 dead), and China virus abortion.
Trump’s tax, employment, business, and minority
Benefits are well-defined. Lawful immigration by
Suitable, productive citizen candidates is solid,
Civil policy! This is too academic for most,
Too late for my conservative ferver, but historically
Spot on! America is worse in 2024 after Biden/Harris
Socializes USA!

[Bob Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria goes through all of the attempts to pull Trump down, that the focus of too many was not on protecting our country or making our country better. But rather, to only destroy Trump and the middle class, non elites that gave a challenge to the corrupt ways of inside the beltway. Discussed are many of the things Trump did for the American people, despite what the MSM and the insiders tried to destroy.
The big winner, China. The big loser, everyday Americans. Great book, great insight.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book examines policies and pending policies to examine potential & real impact on the average citizen. Looking at it in hindsight as it published just before the 2020 election, a lot of doomsaying didn’t happen but some issues -like the open border & damage of closed schools during the pandemic - couldn’t be examined.

[Ann Hollaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reporting by two very respected jounalists. A must read for those who still believe there is no corruption in government or deny who are the biggest corruptors. Why are we taxpayers allowing this to happen? I feel foolish!

[Mike Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, relatively unbiased look at the Trump record in his term as well as an indictment of American journalism. More people should read this so there have an alternate to the biased narrative must of the American media pushed during the Trump presidency.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of Trump's successes and even failures, especially from the economic standpoint

[Randy Hass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written and very enjoyable book about the unconventional presidency of Donald J. Trump. Bombastic, at times almost crude, Mr. Trump accomplished more in four years than most of the recent presidents preceding him combined.

Coming from the world of business, Mr. Trump understands what makes the economic engine run to drive the country forward. As a result, we’ve enjoyed the prosperity that we’ve had. Unfortunately, the China virus coming ashore in early 2020 dragged the economy down as we locked down for close to three months, then struggled back to life. Thanks to an economic lifeline and the rapid development of the COVID vaccine things are coming back to life as we enter 2021.

Maria and Freeman examine at length Mr. Trump’s approach to the economy. Before he took office, the corporate taxes in the country were the highest in the world. Corporations have to pass this along to the consumer through higher costs and to employees through lower wages and even layoffs. Ultimately, some companies ended up moving productions out of the country to take advantage of lower taxes and wages.

Mr. Trump lowered taxes down to 21 percent and the economy responded by the market hitting new highs over fifty times during his presidency. Unemployment hit new lows and the economy thrived. He also eased regulations that were hamstringing companies in their operations.

With all that success the opposition strengthened their attacks. This began even as Mr. Trump was a candidate. False allegations were made of Russian collusion basically through rumor and innuendo. The Mueller commission spent nearly two years and basically found nothing but baseless allegations made and handled by a corrupt FBI and intelligence agencies.

They also examine how China has become emboldened under Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. We have traditionally thought of Russia as being our chief opposition in the global community. But China has made great strides in their drive to become the most powerful economy in the world. The authors look at this in length and show how Mr. Trump recognized the threat and took powerful measures including tariffs. He also connected China to the origin of the virus that crippled the world econ

Beyond that, we find a mainstream media that seemed to abandon responsible journalism and became leaders and propagators of a resistance to Mr. Trump and his administration. This culminated with the non reporting of events that would bolster his administration.

It will long be debated what happened Nov. 3 as the election produced a new president. I’ve had folks question why did he not keep his mouth curbed instead of always pushing the envelope. My answer is that if he did that, Donald Trump would not have been Donald Trump and the political establishment would not have been knocked off center. It is that characteristic and his vision of a Great America that brought us to the highest price levels of the stock market. America was

Bartiromo and Freeman have written a gem of a book that well explains where America is today. They lay the facts out. It is up to each of us to decide!

[Jim Dowdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cost is probably the best, the most balanced and the most complete assessment of the war on civilization that I have read to date. The whole Trash Trump agenda is exposed with factual and verified information. We see that the hydra headed coalition pushing the insurrection is diverse, but all the leaders share one ideology.
Few who follow current events will find any fault with Maria’s assessment of the news. She is one of a vanishing small number of real reporters. This book is a true news report written in a manor that will keep you reading to the end. It will lead you to understand the truth of the American political world. It is too bad that the book was not finished in time to help support President Trump's reelection, but I take a small measure of consolation in the fact that history will have a record of the truth.
This book is about the cost of not paying attention to elections. Those trusting citizens that believe that their politicians have the people’s best interests as their motivation and choose to trust others to decide who will rule, ignore the cost of their ignorance. This book explores that in simple terms that even lefties can understand. Unfortunately, it is now too late for the 2020 election.
I recommend that everyone concerned with where politicians are leading our western civilization read and heed this timely book.

[Michael Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since journalism is no longer "the first draft of history" because . . . well, because it's no longer journalism, we will have to watch the first crop of books that emerge in the post-first-term Trumpian era. This one is essential already for its fact-driven description of the American economy under Donald J. Trump. Trump's tax cuts and vigorous deregulation brought about a renaissance for US growth and productivity, one that produced the best job market, the lowest unemployment and strongest income growth for all groups, not just "the rich." Maria also provides one of her invaluable timelines of the Russian collusion hoax, which prompts one to wonder: What else could this president have accomplished had it not been for the blind hatred and lawlessness of "the resistance?"

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m happy I read this book now because I fear that with the way things are headed politically in the U.S., it may not be long until we are living in the era of banned books or book burning like we saw in the novel Fahrenheit 451.

From my optic, “McCarthyism” is on the rise. There is certainly a concerted and coordinated effort to curtail, manipulate or reduce Americans’ first amendment right to free speech. That being said, this book highlights some interesting yet unpopular information and I found it to be intriguing and certainly worth the read.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Bartiromo is a favorite of mine. She's highly analytical in finance, and precise in journalism. This book pretty much describes valuable economic and national positives throughout President Trumps term. Resistance from within liberal ranks, international relationships, and actions taken by the administration to take more power back from China and to the American people. Covid-19, and the Wuhan cover-up/censorship of what was happening, and those consequences. My respect for the author is greater at the finish of this read.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. It is sad that so many American are blocked from this information by media censorship.