Ben Shapiro on Trump's Tariffs, Industrial Policy, and China

Trump's Tariffs and Conservative Concerns

• 🎯 Ben Shapiro discusses President Trump's approach to tariffs, noting that while conservatives may dislike his "command and control economics" and taking stakes in companies like Intel, the alternative of massive taxation and overregulation would have been worse.
• 💡 He suggests that the counterfactual of a Kamala Harris presidency was frightening for many conservatives, framing the election as a binary choice where Trump was the lesser of two evils.
• ⚖️ Shapiro argues that conservatives can critique Trump's policies, such as tariffs and industrial policy, while still acknowledging that his presidency was preferable to the alternative.

Industrial Policy and Government Stakes

• 💰 The discussion touches on the CHIPS Act and its conditions, with Shapiro suggesting that the government taking a 10% stake in Intel for $9 billion, with stipulations like union wages and childcare, is "less bad" than other forms of industrial policy.
• 📉 He posits that the ideal scenario would have been for Trump to attempt to rescind such spending, but acknowledges the difficulty of this.

National Security and China

• ⚠️ A significant concern raised is the sale of advanced chips, like Nvidia's H20s, to China, which is framed as a national security issue.
• 🛡️ Shapiro questions the logic of selling components for advanced technology to a geopolitical opponent, drawing a parallel to the Cold War.
• 🚫 He advocates for stronger measures to counter China, including shutting down TikTok, which he describes as a "gigantic Chinese misinformation operation."

Tariffs and Manufacturing

• 🚗 The conversation explores the national security implications of tariffs, particularly in the automotive industry, and the potential takeover by Chinese companies like BYD if tariffs were removed.
• 🏭 Shapiro believes tariffs can be a tool to bring manufacturing back onshore and rejigger the balance of trade, though he acknowledges the complexity and potential downsides.
• 🗣️ He notes that President Trump often pushes boundaries with his ideas and is responsive to reality, adjusting his approach when faced with limitations.