Overview

• Trump lauded President McKinley's tariff-heavy economic policies of the 1890s, claiming they made the U.S. extremely wealthy.
• Historians and economists quickly refuted Trump's claims, pointing out the severe economic depression during the 1890s.
• The Panic of 1893 led to high unemployment and bank failures, contradicting Trump's portrayal of the era as prosperous.
• Experts noted that McKinley's tariffs increased costs for consumers and were politically costly for the Republican Party.
• Critics argue that Trump's historical inaccuracies reflect his broader misunderstanding of economic complexities.