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President Donald Trump said the U.S. is on the cusp of something “this country has never seen” — and he credited his much-discussed tariff policy for it.
Speaking at a White House Christmas reception in December 2025, Trump argued that tariffs are driving a manufacturing revival, pointing to the auto industry as a prime example (1).
“Our car industry … went to Europe, they went to Mexico, Japan — they went all over. They went to South Korea,” Trump said. “And now it’s just the opposite. They’re all coming back. We have an age that’s coming up, the likes of which this country has never seen.”
As an example, Trump pointed to Toyota, which recently announced plans to make an additional investment of up to $10 billion in its U.S. operations over the next five years (2).
According to Trump, companies are increasingly choosing to build in the U.S. to avoid tariffs.
“So they’re coming from Germany, they’re coming from Japan, they’re coming from Canada. Many factories are coming in because they don’t want to pay tariffs — very simple. They’re coming in and they’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said (1).
The result, Trump said, could be a historic economic upswing.
“We have a country that potentially is geared to have the most incredible golden years ever,” he said, adding that when factories open up “by the thousands,” it would mark “the golden age of America.”
While that manufacturing boom may be on its way, it has yet to fully materialize. After 10 consecutive months of contraction, U.S. manufacturing activity managed to rebound in January 2026, but it grew at a slower pace in February, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) (3).
During his December remarks, President Trump gave a timeline for the big tariff payoff, saying, “You’re going to see results in six months to a year. I think you’ll see results — we’ve never had anything like it.”
In the meantime, however, some makers of transportation equipment said tariffs were “raising prices while lowering demand and profitability,” adding that “American-produced commodities like steel and aluminum are the highest priced in the world, by far,” reported ISM.
And the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling that the tariffs are unconstitutional remains to be seen, especially due to Trump’s announcement of across-the-board tariffs shortly after the decision.
The war in Iran is another complicating factor for the economy.
As hopes rise and fall about a possible end to the conflict, the U.S. stock market has whipsawed from gains to losses on a daily basis. However, the last full week of March 2026 marked the fifth straight losing week for the market — the longest negative streak in nearly four years, according to The Associated Press (4).
What’s more, oil prices have surged more than 40% during the war — meaning consumers are now paying upward of a dollar more per gallon, as reported by CNBC (5). And some experts say higher gas prices are just the beginning, warning that disrupted supply chains will increase costs in every sector of the economy, from groceries and medications to building materials and electronics (6).
In a recent Cabinet meeting, though, Trump expressed his belief that the economic damage would reverse, saying, “It’s all going to come back down to where it was and probably lower (5).”
Read More: I’m almost 50 years old and don’t have retirement savings. Is it too late?
While Trump’s tariff policies and war with Iran have drawn criticism, major companies continue to view the U.S. as one of the most dependable places to build and grow.
That confidence is showing up in the scale of capital they’re committing — across multiple industries.
For instance, Apple has announced a new $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and jobs, bringing its total investment up to $600 billion over the next four years (7). Johnson & Johnson also plans to put more than $55 billion into U.S. manufacturing, research and development, and new technologies in the same time frame — an increase of 25% compared to the previous four years (8).
Hyundai, meanwhile, is investing $26 billion in the U.S. through 2028 to boost automotive production capacity, localize key components and accelerate work on future industries (9).
So, why are these companies still betting on America?
Legendary investor Warren Buffett has long pointed to America as a prime destination for building long-term wealth.
“America has been a terrific country for investors. All they have needed to do is sit quietly, listening to no one,” Buffett wrote in his 2023 letter to shareholders (10).
He also says one of the simplest and most accessible ways to invest in America is through the stock market. Buffett has argued that doing so doesn’t require picking individual winners.
“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (11). This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.
And in a seesawing market, it’s important to keep a long view. After all, the S&P 500 has gained nearly 75% over the past five years, as of April 1, 2026 (12).
If you want to capitalize on this consistency, it pays to have access to simple, jargon-free research to keep you informed as you invest.
That’s why Moby offers expert research and recommendations that are easy to understand and can help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by advice from former hedge fund analysts.
In four years, and across almost 400 stock picks, their recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Moby’s team spends hundreds of hours sifting through financial news and data to provide you with stock and crypto reports delivered straight to you. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts and can help you reduce the guesswork behind choosing stocks and ETFs.
Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes.
Once you have the right advice, are you ready to start investing?
Platforms like Robinhood are designed to make investing simpler and more approachable.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can also buy and sell individual stocks, fractional shares and options (for qualified traders) — backed by 24/7 support. Stocks, ETFs and their options trades are commission-free.
With access to popular ETFs like the Vanguard S&P 500, you can build diversified exposure without needing to pick individual stocks.
The platform also offers both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, so you can choose the tax strategy that fits your retirement plan.
With its recurring investment feature, you can set up automatic investments of your preferred fractional shares, stocks and ETFs on your own schedule.
Over time, this helps make investing a habit and steadily grows your portfolio.
Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth building in America — one that Trump himself knows well.
Before politics, Trump made his fortune in real estate — and the asset class remains a powerful tool for building and preserving wealth. High-quality properties can generate rental income, offering a dependable stream of passive cash flow. Real estate can also serve as an inflation hedge, as property values and rents tend to rise alongside the cost of living.
As Trump told Steve Forbes back in 2011, “I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times (13).”
Buffett has also pointed to real estate as an example of a productive, income-generating asset. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (14).”
Of course, you don’t need billions of dollars — or even buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate.
Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning monthly dividends.
Another great option is mogul, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties. This gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform’s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property — not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.
Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.
Keep in mind that if you’re feeling uncertain about the state of the economy in 2026, you’re not alone.
According to the University of Michigan’s survey of consumer sentiment, Americans’ economic outlook for the short run fell 14% between February and March 2026, and expected personal finances for the year ahead decreased 10%. However, the drop in long-run expectations was more muted (15).
A financial advisor can be key at times like these, offering insight from someone who has witnessed market dips and spikes and can help steer you through it all.
If you need help finding an advisor you can rely on, Advisor.com makes it easy. Their platform connects you with licensed financial professionals in your area who can provide personalized guidance.
Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, their network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.
Just enter a few details about your finances and goals, and Advisor.com’s AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.
And since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation with no obligation to hire to see if they’re the right fit for you.
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@WhiteHouse (1); Toyota (2); Institute for Supply Management (3); The Associated Press (4); CNBC (5), (11), (14); The Conversation (6); Apple (7); Johnson & Johnson (8); Hyundai (9); Berkshire Hathaway (10); Yahoo Finance (12); @Forbes (13); University of Michigan (15)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
