Trump has been weirdly obsessed with William McKinley: invoking him, elevating him, even tying him to symbolism like the mountain renaming.

Like, remember this Executive Order entitled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness”

And then, suddenly, you see why: McKinley represents not just tariffs but the dawn of America’s imperial era.

William McKinley (1897–1901) was the 25th president of the United States, best known for championing high tariffs and presiding over the Spanish-American War which was an inflection point that launched the U.S. into a more openly imperial role. During his presidency, the U.S. took control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, among other territories, and established dominance over Cuba through U.S. occupation and the Platt Amendment. In other words: McKinley isn’t just a “tariff guy.” He’s a symbol of America’s turn toward expansion, coercive power, and empire.

This video breaks down what Trump is signaling when he keeps resurrecting McKinley and why it matters when “inspo” starts looking like policy.

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