‘Freedom cities’ and flying cars: Donald Trump unveils latest proposal
(CNN) Former President Donald Trump on Friday proposed building up to 10 futuristic “freedom cities” on federal land, part of a plan the 2024 presidential candidate said would “create a new American future” in a country that “is his.” has lost boldness”.
Commuters, meanwhile, could get around in flying cars, Trump said, echoing “The Jetsons,” the classic cartoon about a family in a high-tech future society. Major airlines, automakers and other companies are already working on developing vertical take-off and landing vehicles, although this is still years away from being ready for the market.
“I want to make sure America, not China, leads this air mobility revolution,” Trump, who announced his third run for the presidency in November, said in a four-minute video detailing his plan.
He said he will start a contest to found up to 10 “freedom cities” about the size of Washington, DC, on vacant federal land.
“We’re actually going to build new cities in our country again,” Trump said in the video. “These liberty cities will reopen borders, rekindle the American imagination and give hundreds of thousands of young people and others, all hard-working families, a new chance at home ownership and indeed the American Dream.”
light on details
Trump’s pitch comes the day before he is due to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the Washington, DC area, and as the 2024 Republican presidential field begins to take shape.
The proposal is the latest in a series of early policy offers from Trump, who has also said in recent weeks he will seek to increase domestic energy production, take a more isolated foreign policy stance, and distance the government and military from “warmongers and globalists.” “to clean up” and reverse a Biden executive order that would require government agencies to submit annual public plans to promote justice.
In December, the former president unveiled plans as part of his “Free Speech Platform” that included vows to stop federal funds from flagging speech as misinformation or disinformation and to punish universities involved in “censorship activities” with federal funding cuts .
Trump didn’t elaborate on Friday how he would pay for his latest proposal — leaving unanswered what may be the biggest question as Republicans in Washington seek to rein in federal spending. Nor did he explain how some elements of his proposal differ from similar democratic plans.
His meager plan includes three other items: increasing tariffs on goods imported into the United States; providing “baby bonuses” to families, which he said would “help start a new baby boom”; and launching a beautification effort aimed at removing “ugly” buildings and revitalizing parks and public spaces.
Trump did not explain what “baby bonuses” would constitute or who would qualify. It’s not clear how his proposal differs from the improved child tax credit, which has not been extended beyond 2021. A group of Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocates tried—but failed—to include them in December’s $1.7 trillion spending measure. That proposal was blocked by Republicans.
trade battle
Trump also called for universal tariffs and higher taxes on imported goods on Friday. He said he will escalate a trade war with China that he started during his four years in the White House. He said this would boost American production.
President Joe Biden has maintained tariffs on $350 billion worth of Chinese goods – nearly two-thirds of what the US imports from China – imposed by Trump.
But the cost of those tariffs is passed on to American consumers and contributes to inflation, experts say.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last year that these tariffs on Chinese goods “have done more damage to consumers and businesses” than China.
Chris Rupkey, chief economist at market research firm FwdBonds, said Trump’s proposed economic plan reflects the former real estate developer’s efforts before he took office.
“Builders build and make dreams come true, but this plan looks like a stretch because the country can’t afford to undertake massive new projects when the national debt is over $31 trillion,” Rupkey said in an email. “There are some interesting ideas here, but this is not the time for bold plans with big dreams. There is no money left in Uncle Sam’s coffers to pay for big dreams and daring projects.”
The nation is in the midst of a “cost of living crisis” that makes this too expensive a proposition, Rupkey added.