Trump Pledged to Bring Back Manufacturing. The Sector Is Sputtering
So far, that hasn't happened. Economic activity tied to manufacturing has shrunk for most of Trump's second term.
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USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
No Open in sight, but with DP World Tour event, Donald Trump's foothold in Scotland grows
This week, the DP World Tour has returned to Scottish soil for the Nexo Championship, which is being held at —whisper it — Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen. A late addition to the circuit's schedule, the event was originally called the Scottish Championship before a title sponsor hopped on board. In case you're wondering, Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform with its high-heeled yins proudly stating that, 'golf is a natural fit for our brand: elevated, global, and principled.' Is that not what Trump says about himself? Anyway, the Nexo Championship is the second significant event to be staged on Trump's golfing turf in the space of a few days, following the Staysure PGA Seniors' Championship, which concluded on Sunday. The other week, a petition urging the R&A not to take The Open back to Trump's Turnberry course was launched and earned upwards of 50,000 signatures. I've not found a petition against the staging of the Nexo Championship — the Scottish Government has chipped in with $240,000 of funding for it — or the golden oldies event on a Trump property yet. Amid all the fist-shaking, harrumphing, placard-waving and handwringing that greeted the U.S. President's visit to these shores last week, the actual golf events themselves clatter and batter on unhindered. Slowly but surely, Trump continues to establish a foothold in the business of championships on this side of the pond. My learned colleague, Ewan Murray of The Guardian, suggested in his own column recently that it would be no surprise to see a Scottish Open at Turnberry within the next few years. As Trump cut the ribbon on his second course at Balmedie last week, Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, was part of the ceremonial party. Presumably, any discussions about tournament golf at Trump-owned venues moved beyond the staging of the Nexo Championship? We all, meanwhile, know the championship Trump desperately craves. Despite all the 'dialogue' and 'feasibility work' about an Open at his treasured Turnberry, however, we all also know that there's probably more chance of the game's most celebrated major being held at Littlehill municipal while Trump is still around. In his homeland of the USA, Trump had a major, the PGA Championship, booked in at his Bedminster course in 2022 until the PGA of America stripped him of the honor after his incitement of the Capitol insurrection. PGA Championships are assigned to venues until 2032, while U.S. Opens are already locked in at various courses until 2043. The R&A, meanwhile, has announced Open venues only through 2027. Even if the prospect seems as remote as Point Nemo, The Open still remains Trump's best crack at a major championship. He may not be around to see it, mind you. It's hard to think that 10 years have hurtled by since we all trotted off down to Turnberry for the Women's Open of 2015 and the bold Donald hijacked affairs by birling about over the Ailsa course in his helicopter before making a grand entrance. That first morning of play was probably one of the most sigh-inducing days of my working life. Well, apart from the time there was no press lunch at an Amateur Championship one year. The bizarre circus unfolded not long after Trump had made his outlandish comments about Mexicans as his Presidential campaign became more volatile and divisive. Poor Lizette Salas, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who had spoken with quiet dignity on the eve of the championship about Trump's inflammatory rant, was encircled by cameras and microphones upon completing her opening round. In an elbowing, barging scrum of news reporters, she faced barking, salivating questions like, 'is he a racist?' instead of the more genteel, 'what club did you hit into the seventh?' It was all spectacularly unedifying on the first day of a women's major championship. About a year earlier, Peter Dawson, the then chief executive of the R&A, suggested that, 'it would be ludicrous if something said on the Presidential campaign trail dictated where an Open is held.' That observation didn't age particularly well, did it? Amid the general pandemonium that engulfed the Women's showpiece that day, a teenage Lydia Ko adopted an air of shrugging nonchalance to the whole palaver. 'I was on the 16th and saw the helicopter and I was like, 'man, that's a really nice helicopter, I'd love one,' she said at the time. Here in 2025, Trump's own heart's desire remains an Open Championship. For the time being, though, a Nexo Championship will do him. It's a telling foot on the DP World Tour ladder. He may climb a few rungs yet.
Buzz Feed
a minute ago
- Buzz Feed
Trump-Themed Restaurant Owner Faces Deportation
If you haven't heard, there is a Donald Trump-themed restaurant in Houston, Texas called "Trump Burger." The popular Texas chain sells hamburgers with the letters "T-R-U-M-P" etched into the buns... They have detailed artwork of Trump hanging on the walls... Oh, AND their menu includes items like the "Melania Crispy Chicken" and the "Barron Crispy Grilled," as well as a promise to "Make Burgers Great Again." Well, the "Trump Burger" has recently gone viral due to its owner being arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying his visa. Roland Mehrez Beainy, the 28-year-old Houston "Trump Burger" owner, was reportedly arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly failing to depart the US last year after arriving in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa from Lebanon. An ICE spokesperson said this in a statement about Beainy's arrest: "Despite false claims to the contrary, Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States. Beainy is a 28-year-old illegal alien from Lebanon who entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor, but he failed to depart by Feb. 12, 2024, as required under the terms of his admission." "ICE officers arrested him on May 16, 2025, and he was placed into immigration proceedings. On June 13, an immigration judge granted his request for bond while he undergoes his proceedings." "Under the current administration, ICE is committed to restore integrity to our nation's immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have." While awaiting his immigration court hearing set for November, Beainy has denied the charges, telling Chron, a Houston news website: "Ninety percent of the shit they're saying is not true." Obviously, the internet had some thoughts on this one, with multiple people comparing the news to a South Park episode... "South Park Creators rn: WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN.." "They really thought it would affect everyone else but themselves," this person wrote. And finally, this person pointed out that Trump doesn't seem to care about his own supporters... What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Boston Globe
a minute ago
- Boston Globe
Car companies are paying tariffs so you don't have to
'We haven't raised prices due to tariffs, and that's still our mantra,' Randy Parker, chief executive of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, said in an interview this month. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up That is good news for Trump and Republicans in Congress because it insulates them from the political consequences of higher sticker prices, which would also contribute to inflation. Advertisement Carmakers 'will try to hold prices and focus on cost reduction for as long as they can,' said Lenny LaRocca, a partner at KPMG who leads the consulting firm's work with the auto industry. But, LaRocca said, 'clearly it's not sustainable.' He predicted that automakers would start raising prices significantly early next year. No car company is immune. Even those that make most of their vehicles in the United States use imported parts that can amount to more than half the value of some cars. In recent weeks General Motors, Toyota, Ford Motor, Stellantis, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have all blamed tariffs for declines in profit. Advertisement Ford, which makes most of its cars in the United States, expects retail prices for its vehicles to rise just 1% this year, Sherry House, the chief financial officer, said last month during a conference call with reporters. Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the Port of Baltimore, where new vehicle imports are processed before distribution to dealerships. Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press But that's not because the tariffs aren't having an effect. Import duties subtracted $800 million from Ford's profit in the second quarter, leading to a slight loss for the period. For the whole year, Ford estimated that tariffs would cost the company $2 billion. General Motors, the largest U.S. carmaker, said last month that tariffs would cost the company as much as $5 billion for the full year, although it hoped to offset about a third of that amount by cutting costs and moving some manufacturing to the United States. Still, the company expects retail prices to rise 1% or less this year, Paul Jacobson, chief financial officer of GM, told investors last month. Toyota, which makes many cars in the United States but also imports them from Japan, Mexico and Canada, said Thursday that tariffs would cost it $9.5 billion. A day earlier, Honda pegged its tariff cost at $3 billion. Tariffs and sinking profits could make it harder for carmakers to do what Trump wants them to do -- relocate assembly lines to the United States from other countries. Companies will have less money to invest in new factories and equipment. The Trump administration maintains that deregulation, tax deductions for equipment purchasing and other measures will be positive for the industry. Advertisement 'Two things can be accomplished at once: We can lower costs for everyday Americans while restoring American auto dominance,' Kush Desai, a White House spokesperson, said in an email. 'The administration is working closely with the auto industry to deliver on both fronts.' Car prices as measured by U.S. officials declined slightly in June, Desai pointed out, 'despite months of autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum tariffs being in place.' Workers gave final inspections to vehicles at a General Motors plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. BRETT CARLSEN/NYT Others see signs that prices are beginning to creep higher. Cox Automotive estimates that tariffs will add at least $5,000 to the cost of imported cars on an annual basis. Even for cars manufactured in the United States, tariffs on components add about $1,000, not including the 50% duties that Trump has imposed on imported steel and aluminum. By the end of the year, prices could be 8% higher, Cox says, pushing the average selling price of a new car above $50,000. Higher prices would fall hardest on less affluent consumers. Many of the least expensive cars are imported, like the Chevrolet Trax made in South Korea or the Nissan Versa made in Mexico. Some car buyers will be able to afford only used models. And higher demand for pre-owned vehicles will push up their prices, too. Adding to the pain, buyers of used cars often pay much higher interest on loans, which can exceed 20% for people with less-than-stellar credit records. The cost of repairs and parts will also rise. So far the price increases have been modest, said Michael Holmes, co-chief executive of Virginia Tire and Auto. The chain of auto repair and maintenance shops adds a tariff surcharge to prices to reflect the additional cost. That can range from 50 cents or so for an air filter to around $5 for a tire. Advertisement But the surcharges could rise depending on where tariffs on parts from Mexico and Canada end up, he said. His biggest problem, Holmes said, is staying abreast of shifting trade policy. 'You get exhausted trying to figure out where all these tariffs are,' he said. Trump policies have some financial benefits for carmakers. The Republican domestic policy bill passed last month eliminated penalties for violating clean air standards. That angered environmental groups but allows carmakers to build more big SUVs and pickups, which tend to have the highest profit margins. The end of those penalties has also freed established carmakers from having to buy clean air credits if they fall short of emissions targets. That will save GM and others hundreds of millions of dollars, but comes at the expense of companies that have lots of credits to sell, like Tesla and Rivian, because they make only electric vehicles that emit nothing from tailpipes. Car executives are hopeful that the Trump administration will take further steps to ease the impact of tariffs. 'We're having very constructive conversations with them to ensure a more level playing field,' House, the Ford chief financial officer, told reporters this month. But Trump continues to threaten substantial tariffs on Mexico and Canada and has yet to reach a permanent trade deal with either. Both countries are critical suppliers of vehicles and parts and are important destinations for parts and vehicles made in the United States. The policy bill also contained a measure designed to stimulate demand for cars. The provision lets taxpayers deduct from their taxes the interest they pay on loans used to buy cars assembled in the United States. But the value of the deduction will be relatively small, in the hundreds of dollars for most people. Advertisement 'We don't think it's really going to drive demand,' said Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. This article originally appeared in
