How Trump Could Replace Federal Income Taxes
How Trump Could Replace Federal Income Taxes with Import Tariffs to Fund the U.S. Government One of the boldest economic ideas floated in recent years is the prospect of replacing federal income taxes with tariffs on imported goods—a strategy that former President Donald Trump has hinted at as part of his "America First" economic platform. While the proposal may sound radical in the modern era of global trade and complex tax systems, this approach has deep historical roots in American economic policy. A Return to America’s Original Revenue Model Before the passage of the 16th Amendment in 1913, which established the federal income tax, the United States government was funded almost entirely by tariffs and excise taxes. For more than a century, import duties served as the primary revenue stream to support government operations, infrastructure development, and national defense. This system not only funded the government effectively but also encouraged domestic manufacturing...