In a shocking turn of events, President Trump’s controversial 50% tariff on Canadian steel is set to take effect tomorrow, igniting fears of skyrocketing prices for American consumers and manufacturers. While the stock market reacted positively—boosting U.S. steel shares—underlying economic realities suggest that the average American will bear the brunt of this drastic policy.

The president’s announcement, framed as a patriotic effort to fortify American industry, has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that the real beneficiaries are billionaire steel tycoons like Barry Zekelman, who openly supports the tariffs while profiting from the chaos they create. Zekelman, a Canadian businessman with extensive operations in the U.S., stands to gain significantly as the tariffs restrict foreign competition, allowing him to inflate prices without consequence.

Trump’s narrative of “Fortress North America” is quickly unraveling. The tariffs, rather than protecting American jobs, threaten to push costs higher for car manufacturers, construction firms, and everyday consumers. As prices for steel surge, small businesses are forced to make tough choices—cutting jobs, delaying projects, or raising prices on essential goods.

Zekelman’s rhetoric masks a troubling truth: while he champions the tariffs as a means of securing American jobs, the reality is that they primarily serve to line the pockets of a select few. The American steel industry needed fairness, not favoritism, yet this policy is rigged to benefit insiders at the expense of the working class.

As the clock ticks down to the implementation of these tariffs, the implications are clear: the promise of “America First” is fading, revealing a landscape where political allegiance trumps economic stability. The stakes are high, and the average American is left to grapple with the fallout of a policy that was never truly about protecting them.