Georgia, February 2026 — President Donald Trump has declared an American manufacturing “comeback,” credited entirely to his administration’s aggressive trade barriers. Speaking at the CUSA Steel Corporation on February 19, the President used the facility’s sudden reversal of fortune as a primary exhibit for the success of his “America First” economic agenda.
The “Boom” of CUSA Steel Just 18 months ago, the CUSA Steel Corporation was on the brink of collapse. The facility had plummeted from two full shifts to just one hour of operation per week as foreign subsidized steel “dumped” by China and other nations flooded the market.
“Business is booming again,” Trump announced, noting that the plant received its first massive order for tire racks since 2014 this past October. The facility is now operating at full speed, six days a week, with a production backlog that stretches seven months into the future.
Tariffs: The President’s Economic Shield The cornerstone of this resurgence, according to the President, is the imposition of powerful 50% tariffs on foreign steel. Trump defended his decision to end all Biden-era exemptions and expand tariffs to cover 400 derivative products, including the specific steel racks manufactured in Georgia.
Calling “tariff” his fifth favorite word in the dictionary, Trump argued that these barriers are essential for national security and protect American jobs from foreign nations that rip off the U.S. economy.
By the Numbers: $18 Trillion in Commitments The President presented a stark contrast between current economic performance and that of the previous four years:
- Investment Surge: In just 11 months, the administration claims to have secured over $18 trillion in investment commitments, compared to less than $1 trillion under the prior administration.
- Market Records: The stock market has hit 53 all-time record highs since the election, adding an estimated $9 trillion in value to American retirement accounts and 401ks.
- Job Growth: Georgia alone has seen the creation of over 5,000 manufacturing jobs and 70,000 construction jobs, with more Americans working nationwide today than at any time in history.
The “Great Big Beautiful Bill” Trump also promoted his sweeping tax-cut legislation, which he nicknamed the “Great Big Beautiful Bill”. Key provisions highlighted during the speech included:
- No Tax on Tips and Overtime: Designed to put more cash directly into the pockets of the working class.
- No Tax on Social Security: A specific promise to protect the income of Georgia’s 1.8 million seniors.
- Business Incentives: Policies such as 100% expensing for new equipment, which Trump says encouraged companies like Novartis to build 11 new plants in the U.S..
Bottom Line President Trump’s Georgia address signals a total pivot toward protectionist economics. While legal challenges to his tariff authority remain pending in the Supreme Court, the President insists that without these measures, the American industrial base would be “finished.” For CUSA Steel and its workers, the “America First” policy has meant the difference between a one-hour work week and a seven-month backlog of orders.
