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Plastic Spoons, Umbrellas, Violins: A Guide to What Americans Buy From China

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7 months ago

May 24, 2025

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Plastic Spoons, Umbrellas, Violins: A Guide to What Americans Buy From China

Photo Illustration by Zak Bickel/The New York Times; Photographs via Getty; Unsplash

Tariffs are up. Tariffs are down. Shipping is frozen. Shipping is back on.

In the past several weeks, Chinese imports to the U.S. have been on a seesaw, leaving Americans uncertain how tariffs will affect their lives.

It’s impossible to say what tariffs will do to the price or availability of any particular item, although even the Trump administration’s current level of 30 percent tariffs — on top of previous levies — will certainly make many things more expensive.

But thanks to detailed trade data, we know what Americans buy from China, and how much of it, and thus what might be most sensitive to future swings in trade status.

Here are several ways of understanding what’s on those container ships, based on 2024 data from the U.S. International Trade Commission.

First, the products where the greatest share of our imports are Chinese imports:

Goods Americans import almost exclusively from China

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Baby carriages	97%	$380
2	Artificial plants	96%	$991
3	Umbrellas	96%	$491
4	Filing cabinets	96%	$88
5	Vacuum flasks	96%	$1,634
6	Fireworks	95%	$465
7	Children’s picture books	93%	$505
8	Portable lighting	91%	$901
9	Combs	91%	$367
10	Travel kits	90%	$42

This list is the simplest way to think about which Chinese goods the U.S. relies on most. But percentages aren’t everything. Americans buy so much from China that even goods with smaller imported shares from there could still be significantly affected by tariffs.

Chinese goods that Americans spend the most on

Advertisement	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Telephones	42%	$50,085
2	Computers	26%	$35,473
3	Electric batteries	58%	$17,022
4	Other toys	76%	$13,463
5	Motor vehicles; parts and accessories	11%	$9,059
6	Video and card games	78%	$7,083
7	Video displays	33%	$6,770
8	Electric heaters	55%	$6,607
9	Seats	26%	$6,582
10	Packaged medications	6%	$6,146

This list skews slightly toward more expensive goods that the average American purchases infrequently, particularly electronics. But the International Trade Commission also tracks how many of each good the U.S. imports.

Chinese goods with huge U.S. import quantities

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Items imported from China in millions
1	Plastic housewares	79%	67,895
2	Other plastic products	45%	19,158
3	Plastic lids	22%	13,688
4	Electrical capacitors	11%	12,125
5	Semiconductor devices	3%	11,368
6	Electrical resistors	11%	9,276
7	Other toys	76%	6,390
8	Other cloth articles	64%	5,466
9	Shaped paper	38%	3,895
10	Low-voltage protection equipment	15%	3,626

In that list, you can see Americans’ well-documented reliance on China for plastic products.

Many of America’s major imports from China are consumer goods: things you buy for yourself, like clothes, housewares or entertainment. Drill down into those categories and specific products stand out.

For example, American wardrobes are somewhat dependent on China: about a fifth of U.S. clothing imports. But a majority of neckties and gloves and pantyhose are imported from China.

Clothing

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Hosiery	58%	$149
2	Neckties	57%	$52
3	Gloves	53%	$724
4	Handkerchiefs	53%	$13
5	Women’s and girls’ bathrobes	50%	$217

Includes knit and non-knit clothing. Excludes leather, plastic and rubber clothing. Various fibers combined into single categories.

The U.S. is more reliant on China for things made with polyester and nylon (like pantyhose) than for those made with cotton.

Athletes, especially racket-sport players, are also dependent on China:

Sporting goods

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Badminton or similar rackets	94%	$64
2	Equipment for table tennis	81%	$34
3	Lawn-tennis rackets	70%	$41
4	Gym and athletic equipment	69%	$1,652
5	Other sports and pool equipment	64%	$1,345

There are also consumer-goods categories whose “Made in China” status may not be as well known. For example, the U.S. gets a lot of its imported string instruments — such as violins and cellos — from China.

Musical instruments

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	String musical instruments played with a bow	83%	$31
2	Brass-wind instruments	44%	$49
3	Percussion musical instruments	36%	$42
4	Wind musical instruments except brass	27%	$48
5	Grand and upright pianos	4%	$4.8

The Japanese company Yamaha manufactures some of its instruments in China, including trumpets and drums.

The U.S. also relies on China for many of its vitamins …

Vitamin derivatives

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Vitamin B6	90%	$32
2	Vitamin B1	88%	$43
3	Vitamin B12	85%	$59
4	Vitamin C	73%	$139
5	Vitamin B3 and B5	72%	$35

… and eels. (China has a robust eel farming industry.)

Fish

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Preserved eel	95%	$38
2	Frozen cod-like fish	91%	$8.5
3	Frozen tilapia fillets	75%	$308
4	Dried, salted and brined cod-like fish fillets	69%	$37
5	Frozen flatfish fillets	65%	$58

Includes processed, frozen, fresh and live fish.

Then there are the goods that the U.S. imports primarily to put inside other things, like car parts.

Car parts

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Vehicle windshields and window parts	32%	$358
2	Motor vehicle wheels and accessories	31%	$1,338
3	Vehicle parts: brakes, servo-brake and parts	25%	$1,697
4	Bumpers and parts for motor vehicles	5%	$79
5	Seat belts for motor vehicles	4%	$11

The U.S. relies heavily on Chinese imports to build electric vehicles in particular: Some 70 percent of its imported lithium-ion batteries are from China.

Even batteries made in the U.S. often rely on raw materials from China, particularly graphite. (China tightened its export controls on graphite at the end of last year, so this year’s numbers could end up looking very different.)

Critical minerals used in E.V. batteries

Advertisement	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Graphite and artificial graphite	62%	$376
2	Manganese ores, oxides and articles	37%	$86
3	Cobalt ores, oxides, hydroxides and articles	2%	$9.8
4	Nickel ores, oxides, hydroxides, sulphates and raw nickel	2%	$30
5	Lithium oxide, hydroxide and carbonate	1%	$2.6

Mr. Trump’s newest tariffs are not the only levies imposed on Chinese goods, and there’s a complicated interplay of which tariffs apply to which products. Some goods that a lot of Americans buy received exemptions from the latest tariffs (though perhaps not future ones), including one item the U.S. imports almost exclusively from China: children’s books.

Select exempted goods

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Children’s picture, drawing or coloring books	93%	$505
2	Smartphones	73%	$40,675
3	Portable computers	66%	$32,169

That’s a window into what Americans buy from China. But for some imports, the U.S. doesn’t rely on China. It’s a list that includes large vehicles, precious metals and tomatoes, all of which America imports largely from other countries.

Goods that the U.S. imports the least from China

Advertisement	ITEM	Total imports in millions
1	Delivery trucks	$47,524
2	Other precious metal products	$21,231
3	Planes, helicopters, and/or spacecraft	$18,309
4	Diamonds	$15,938
5	Raw aluminum	$10,113
6	Refined copper	$8,627
7	Platinum	$6,973
8	Wine	$6,697
9	Other fruits	$5,923
10	Silver	$5,088

Imports value includes all countries, not just China. Includes categories where less than 0.5 percent of goods are from China.

It’s also worth noting what America exports to China. Though the U.S. sends fewer goods to China than it receives, these could still be affected in a trade war. (China has been instituting its own exemptions, which are broader than those of the U.S.)

Goods that the U.S. exports the most to China

	ITEM	Exports to China in millions
1	Soybeans	$12,761
2	Civilian aircraft	$11,522
3	Integrated circuits	$8,716
4	Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures	$6,680
5	Petroleum gas	$6,187
6	Crude petroleum	$6,160
7	Cars	$4,931
8	Machines used to manufacture semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits or flat panel displays	$4,170
9	Medical instruments	$3,460
10	Scrap copper	$2,795

Export value includes only exports to China, not other countries.

To let you take a closer look at what America does and doesn’t import from China, we’ve included a searchable list below of all goods for which the U.S. imported at least $20 million (from any country) in 2024, excluding America’s major exports.

	ITEM	Pct. from China	Imports from China in millions
1	Baby carriages	97%	$380
2	Artificial plants	96%	$991
3	Umbrellas	96%	$491
4	Filing cabinets	96%	$88
5	Vacuum flasks	96%	$1,634
6	Fireworks	95%	$465
7	Children’s picture books	93%	$505
8	Portable lighting	91%	$901
9	Combs	91%	$367
10	Travel kits	90%	$42
11	Chalkboards	90%	$124
12	Party decorations	89%	$4,699
13	Umbrella and walking stick accessories	85%	$71
14	Other footwear	84%	$972
15	Blankets	82%	$1,398
16	Other cutlery	82%	$140
17	Iron housewares	81%	$3,155
18	Bells and other metal ornaments	81%	$911
19	Ceramic tableware	80%	$835
20	Other domestic electric housewares	80%	$2,696
21	Other musical instruments	80%	$22
22	Other clocks	80%	$110
23	Scissors	79%	$123
24	Plastic housewares	79%	$6,079
25	Video and card games	78%	$7,083
26	Other toys	76%	$13,463
27	Cooking hand tools	74%	$106
28	Wood frames	74%	$149
29	Sound recording equipment	72%	$812
30	Aluminum housewares	72%	$1,143
31	Postcards	72%	$273
32	Glycosides	71%	$215
33	Manganese	71%	$85
34	Electric filament	70%	$1,882
35	Scent sprays	70%	$173
36	Cutlery sets	69%	$309
37	Image projectors	68%	$38
38	Graphite	68%	$96
39	Wood ornaments	68%	$394
40	Phosphoric esters and salts	67%	$82
41	Glass bricks	66%	$99
42	Wheelchairs	66%	$273
43	Pearl products	65%	$605
44	Walking sticks	65%	$28
45	Imitation jewelry	65%	$602
46	Brooms	64%	$1,241
47	Other cloth articles	64%	$3,589
48	Fake hair	64%	$879
49	Ornamental ceramics	63%	$328
50	Wood kitchenware	63%	$267
51	Other knit clothing accessories	63%	$186
52	Awnings, tents, and sails	62%	$546
53	Iron sewing needles	62%	$23
54	Iron stovetops	62%	$2,278
55	Pastes and waxes	62%	$200
56	Safes	62%	$212
57	Calendars	61%	$73
58	Interior decorative glassware	60%	$806
59	Artificial graphite	60%	$280
60	Knives	59%	$463
61	Fishing and hunting equipment	59%	$512
62	Watch straps	58%	$121
63	Electric batteries	58%	$17,022
64	Molybdenum	58%	$109
65	Other headwear	57%	$328
66	Neck ties	57%	$52
67	Sports equipment	56%	$4,283
68	Knit gloves	56%	$602
69	Knit socks and hosiery	55%	$1,320
70	Electric heaters	55%	$6,607
71	Hats	55%	$62
72	Mattresses	54%	$2,200
73	Processed mica	54%	$26
74	Other non-knit clothing accessories	54%	$111
75	Porcelain tableware	54%	$179
76	Rubber footwear	54%	$3,440
77	Bedspreads	54%	$422
78	Handkerchiefs	53%	$13
79	Woven fabrics	52%	$120
80	Bladed weapons and accessories	52%	$12
81	Other articles of twine and rope	51%	$76
82	Hair trimmers	51%	$343
83	Gimp yarn	51%	$41
84	Inedible fats and oils	50%	$1,177
85	Cameras	49%	$229
86	Artistry paints	48%	$63
87	Eyewear frames	47%	$595
88	Bathroom ceramics	46%	$725
89	Mannequins	46%	$32
90	Window dressings	46%	$564
91	Magnesium carbonate	46%	$97
92	Other carpets	45%	$132
93	Plastic wash basins	45%	$273
94	Smoking pipes	45%	$12
95	Electromagnets	45%	$487
96	Other zinc products	44%	$125
97	Pulley systems	44%	$653
98	Waterproof footwear	44%	$65
99	Non-knit gloves	43%	$122
100	Carbides	42%	$147
101	Telephones	42%	$50,085
102	Tool sets	42%	$38
103	Bicycles, delivery tricycles, other cycles	42%	$417
104	Medical furniture	42%	$537
105	Locust beans, seaweed, sugar beet, cane	41%	$100
106	Microphones and headphones	41%	$5,365
107	Iron anchors	41%	$18
108	Monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles	41%	$24
109	Eyewear	40%	$1,023
110	Scarves	40%	$124
111	Other hand tools	39%	$570
112	Electric musical instruments	39%	$232
113	Rubber stamps	39%	$14
114	Iron toiletry	38%	$238
115	Scales	38%	$329
116	Iron oxides and hydroxides	38%	$82
117	Felt or coated fabric garments	38%	$825
118	Metal office supplies	38%	$57
119	Other knit garments	37%	$550
120	Motor-working tools	37%	$2,742
121	Light fixtures	36%	$3,344
122	Garments of impregnated fabric	36%	$67
123	Hand tools	36%	$169
124	Percussion	36%	$42
125	Pens	35%	$393
126	Textile footwear	35%	$2,760
127	Saddlery	35%	$198
128	Spring, air, and gas guns	35%	$73
129	Carboxyimide compounds	35%	$102
130	Other wood articles	35%	$597
131	Electrical insulators	34%	$135
132	Knit women’s undergarments	34%	$1,100
133	House linens	34%	$1,989
134	Toilet paper	34%	$678
135	Wind instruments	34%	$97
136	Metal mountings	34%	$2,945
137	Plastic floor coverings	34%	$1,419
138	Knit active wear	33%	$226
139	Garden tools	33%	$136
140	Titanium oxides	33%	$20
141	Video displays	33%	$6,770
142	Bi-wheel vehicle parts	33%	$519
143	Video recording equipment	33%	$179
144	Glass beads	32%	$45
145	Therapeutic appliances	32%	$2,033
146	Safety glass	31%	$416
147	Pencils and crayons	31%	$99
148	Iron chains	31%	$216
149	Knitted hats	31%	$654
150	Non-knit women’s coats	29%	$562
151	Printed circuit boards	29%	$747
152	Iron cloth	29%	$168
153	Vacuum cleaners	29%	$896
154	Other cast iron products	29%	$160
155	Sound recordings	29%	$448
156	Ketones and quinones	28%	$278
157	Paper notebooks	28%	$269
158	Ornamental trimmings	28%	$11
159	Rubber inner tubes	28%	$21
160	Non-knit men’s coats	28%	$547
161	Wrenches	27%	$227
162	Other women’s undergarments	27%	$640
163	Vending machines	27%	$70
164	Embroidery	27%	$29
165	Labels	26%	$11
166	Other metals	26%	$182
167	Seats	26%	$6,582
168	Oxygen heterocyclic compounds	26%	$432
169	Knit men’s undergarments	26%	$427
170	Chromium oxides and hydroxides	26%	$6.8
171	Computers	26%	$35,473
172	Copper housewares	26%	$25
173	Nucleic acids	25%	$880
174	Basketwork	24%	$140
175	Boat propellers	24%	$149
176	Vegetable and mineral carvings	24%	$96
177	Knit women’s coats	24%	$199
178	Twine, cordage or rope; knotted netting, fishing nets and other nets, of textile materials	24%	$13
179	Time switches	24%	$15
180	Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds	24%	$1,167
181	Oxygen amino compounds	24%	$425
182	Motorcycles and cycles	23%	$907
183	Calculators	23%	$260
184	Non-knit active wear	23%	$536
185	Padlocks	23%	$662
186	Wool grease	23%	$5.8
187	Wallpaper	23%	$27
188	Trunks and cases	23%	$2,613
189	Iron nails	23%	$220
190	Aluminum ore	22%	$35
191	Air pumps	22%	$3,494
192	Coated textile fabric	22%	$23
193	Knit babies’ garments	22%	$374
194	Carboxyamide compounds	22%	$249
195	Household washing machines	22%	$502
196	Non-knit women’s undergarments	22%	$106
197	Other furniture	22%	$5,718
198	Woodworking machines	21%	$297
199	Worked slate	21%	$9.8
200	Vegetable saps	21%	$348
201	Non-knit women’s suits	21%	$2,160
202	Woven fabric of synthetic staple fibers	21%	$8.1
203	Commodities not elsewhere specified	21%	$5,136
204	Rubber apparel	21%	$558
205	Balances	21%	$25
206	Leather footwear	21%	$2,404
207	Glass bottles	21%	$343
208	Knit women’s suits	21%	$1,106
209	Plastic building materials	21%	$578
210	Barium sulphate	20%	$40
211	Knit sweaters	20%	$2,570
212	Refrigerators	19%	$2,585
213	Air conditioners	19%	$2,876
214	Wooden tool handles	19%	$9.2
215	Sanitary towels (pads)	19%	$341
216	Vegetable alkaloids	19%	$86
217	Navigation equipment	18%	$799
218	Carboxylic acids	18%	$267
219	Decals	18%	$20
220	Stone working machines	18%	$67
221	Non-knit women’s shirts	18%	$326
222	Non-knit babies’ garments	18%	$58
223	Aluminum foil	18%	$243
224	Watch cases and parts	18%	$4.6
225	Knit men’s coats	17%	$142
226	Copper pipe fittings	17%	$178
227	Gum coated textile fabric	17%	$14
228	Broadcasting equipment	17%	$1,924
229	Refractory bricks	17%	$47
230	Warp knit fabrics	16%	$55
231	Inhalable tobacco/nicotine products	16%	$93
232	Stranded iron wire	16%	$155
233	Metal molds	16%	$359
234	Hydrazine or hydroxylamine derivatives	16%	$23
235	Pearls	15%	$12
236	Spices	15%	$62
237	Onions	15%	$126
238	Building stone	14%	$395
239	Vegetable waxes and beeswax	14%	$9.4
240	Hand saws	14%	$126
241	Packing bags	14%	$98
242	Agglomerated cork	14%	$17
243	Audio alarms	14%	$519
244	Hot-rolled stainless steel bars	14%	$20
245	Book-binding machines	14%	$29
246	Silk fabrics	14%	$5.3
247	Metal stoppers	13%	$138
248	Letter stock	13%	$28
249	Conveyor belt textiles	13%	$15
250	Rolling machines	13%	$46
251	Electrical ignitions	13%	$590
252	Retail artificial filament yarn	13%	$5.3
253	Rubber belting	13%	$105
254	Other leather articles	13%	$19
255	Sewing machines	13%	$53
256	Other vegetable oils	13%	$31
257	Textile wall coverings	13%	$4.7
258	Tufted carpets	13%	$138
259	Casting machines	13%	$60
260	Fish fillets	13%	$951
261	Mirrors and lenses	13%	$195
262	Diazo, azo or azoxy compounds	13%	$6.2
263	Electric motors	12%	$1,603
264	Furskin apparel	12%	$12
265	Industrial printers	12%	$1,787
266	Iron wire	12%	$75
267	Electrical transformers	12%	$3,539
268	Milling stones	12%	$68
269	Other office machines	12%	$116
270	Granulated slag	12%	$26
271	Other heating machinery	12%	$1,066
272	Other clocks and watches	12%	$6.5
273	Sulfonamides	12%	$134
274	Dried/salted/smoked/brined fish	12%	$49
275	Leather apparel	12%	$164
276	Non-knit men’s undergarments	12%	$26
277	Polycarboxylic acids	12%	$181
278	Electrical parts	11%	$35
279	Antimony	11%	$11
280	Engine parts	11%	$1,228
281	Insulated wire	11%	$3,448
282	Rubber pipes	11%	$253
283	Aluminum structures	11%	$307
284	Electrical resistors	11%	$109
285	Non-knit men’s suits	11%	$884
286	Other electrical machinery	11%	$1,798
287	Electrical capacitors	11%	$200
288	Motor vehicles; parts and accessories	11%	$9,059
289	Worked ivory and bone	11%	$4.3
290	Hard rubber	11%	$3.3
291	Other processed fruits and nuts	11%	$449
292	Microscopes	11%	$60
293	Radio receivers	11%	$404
294	Unprocessed artificial staple fibers	11%	$26
295	Electric motor parts	11%	$368
296	Knit men’s suits	10%	$234
297	Other processed vegetables	10%	$202
298	Insulating glass	10%	$37
299	Other meat	10%	$6.6
300	Retail artificial staple fibers yarn	10%	$15
301	Tea	10%	$55
302	Razor blades	10%	$67
303	Iron structures	10%	$854
304	Non-knit men’s shirts	10%	$261
305	Non-mechanical removal machinery	10%	$90
306	Other slag and ash	10%	$3.6
307	Pepper	9%	$104
308	Wood fiberboard	9%	$120
309	Machinery having individual functions	9%	$1,265
310	Papermaking machines	9%	$67
311	Metalworking machines	9%	$30
312	Retail cotton yarn	9%	$4.5
313	Dried fruits	9%	$32
314	Office machine parts	9%	$4,499
315	Knit t-shirts	9%	$572
316	Knitting machines	9%	$11
317	Light pure woven cotton	9%	$32
318	Steel wire	9%	$20
319	Fork-lifts	8%	$691
320	Knit women’s shirts	8%	$167
321	Hand-woven rugs	8%	$130
322	Stone processing machines	8%	$178
323	Gelatin	8%	$24
324	Pumice	8%	$4.6
325	Drilling machines	8%	$30
326	Light mixed woven cotton	8%	$4.1
327	Electrical lighting and signaling equipment	8%	$532
328	Pharmaceutical rubber products	8%	$6.3
329	Cement articles	8%	$198
330	Jute woven fabric	8%	$3.0
331	Other live plants, cuttings and slips; mushroom spawn	8%	$70
332	Iron pipes	7%	$224
333	Other agricultural machinery	7%	$95
334	Washing and bottling machines	7%	$431
335	Sugar preserved foods	7%	$2.5
336	Knit men’s shirts	7%	$153
337	Leather machinery	7%	$2.3
338	Feldspar	7%	$18
339	Rubberworking machinery	7%	$228
340	Metal-rolling mills	7%	$95
341	Lifting machinery	7%	$545
342	Electrical control boards	7%	$1,252
343	Blown glass	6%	$4.8
344	Mollusks	6%	$78
345	Flax woven fabric	6%	$7.9
346	Magnesium	6%	$22
347	Used rubber tires	6%	$29
348	Central heating boilers	6%	$29
349	Pasta	6%	$109
350	Textile processing machines	6%	$117
351	Traffic signals	6%	$28
352	Glass with edge workings	6%	$14
353	Other vegetable products	6%	$10
354	Packaged medications	6%	$6,146
355	Plant foliage	6%	$15
356	Quilted textiles	6%	$1.5
357	Tobacco processing machines	6%	$5.4
358	Wood carpentry	6%	$188
359	Frozen vegetables	6%	$80
360	Candles	6%	$62
361	Perfume plants	6%	$29
362	Processed fish	6%	$116
363	Scrap nickel	6%	$22
364	Yeast	6%	$31
365	Tool plates	5%	$57
366	Copper plating	5%	$54
367	Other paper machinery	5%	$75
368	Polyamide fabric	5%	$16
369	Other non-metal removal machinery	5%	$14
370	Large construction vehicles	5%	$529
371	Fruit juice	5%	$189
372	Other edible animal products	5%	$1.1
373	Plywood	5%	$138
374	Processed crustaceans	5%	$148
375	Unprocessed synthetic staple fibers	5%	$36
376	Confectionery sugar	5%	$149
377	Other animals	5%	$15
378	Radioactive chemicals	5%	$324
379	Metal-clad products	5%	$2.7
380	Nitrites and nitrates	5%	$6.4
381	Antiques	4%	$36
382	Coffee and tea extracts	4%	$56
383	Pianos	4%	$4.5
384	Reclaimed rubber	4%	$4.5
385	Metal finishing machines	4%	$22
386	Tapioca	4%	$2.3
387	Forging machines	4%	$70
388	Insect resins	4%	$5.4
389	Rubber tires	4%	$760
390	Photographic plates	4%	$28
391	Textile scraps	4%	$4.5
392	Other oily seeds	4%	$16
393	Processed mushrooms	4%	$4.9
394	Cranes	4%	$66
395	Tungsten ore	3%	$1.6
396	Animal extracts	3%	$0.78
397	Base metal watches	3%	$160
398	Paper pulp filter blocks	3%	$0.65
399	Felt machinery	3%	$3.4
400	Revolution counters	3%	$49
401	Curbstones	3%	$2.7
402	Other small iron pipes	3%	$111
403	Salt	3%	$15
404	Jewelry	3%	$411
405	Blank audio media	3%	$504
406	Pickled foods	3%	$17
407	Cobalt oxides and hydroxides	3%	$0.90
408	Other pure vegetable oils	3%	$27
409	Semiconductor devices	3%	$557
410	Aircraft parts for spacecraft, UAVs, and ground equipment	2%	$384
411	Iron blocks	2%	$26
412	Starches	2%	$11
413	Carded wool or animal hair fabric	2%	$0.58
414	Collector’s items	2%	$7.3
415	Utility meters	2%	$41
416	Densified wood	2%	$0.65
417	Linoleum	2%	$0.69
418	Copper pipes	2%	$23
419	Photographic paper	2%	$0.46
420	Metal lathes	2%	$19
421	Vegetable parchment	2%	$7.5
422	Coated flat-rolled iron	2%	$102
423	Spice seeds	2%	$2.2
424	Cars	2%	$3,588
425	Gas turbines	2%	$497
426	Gravel and crushed stone	2%	$4.1
427	Knotted carpets	2%	$5.7
428	Non-retail artificial staple fibers yarn	2%	$0.32
429	Synthetic reconstructed jewelry stones	2%	$17
430	Cigarette paper	1%	$3.9
431	Chlorates and perchlorates	1%	$2.4
432	Ground nut oil	1%	$0.94
433	Shaped wood	1%	$19
434	Cloves	1%	$0.35
435	Retail wool or animal hair yarn	1%	$0.65
436	Dolomite	1%	$0.52
437	Ferroalloys	1%	$28
438	Hydrochloric acid	1%	$0.77
439	Combed wool or animal hair fabric	1%	$0.59
440	Leather further prepared after tanning or crusting of animals (other than ovine)	1%	$0.30
441	Wood charcoal	1%	$1.1
442	Aquatic invertebrates, other than crustaceans and mollusks	0.9%	$0.50
443	Non-retail combed wool yarn	0.9%	$0.42
444	Other large iron pipes	0.9%	$6.8
445	Baked goods	0.8%	$88
446	Coin	0.8%	$22
447	Leather of other animals	0.8%	$2.7
448	Nutmeg, mace and cardamons	0.8%	$0.37
449	Other firearms	0.8%	$5.4
450	Perfumes	0.8%	$45
451	Preserved vegetables	0.8%	$0.38
452	Watch movements	0.8%	$0.24
453	Tissue	0.7%	$4.1
454	Aluminum wire	0.6%	$5.7
455	Cinnamon	0.6%	$0.96
456	Raw iron bars	0.6%	$5.0
457	Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures	0.6%	$618
458	Hard liquor	0.5%	$59
459	Jams	0.5%	$3.2
460	Sawn wood	0.5%	$38
461	Stranded aluminum wire	0.5%	$2.0
462	Vehicle bodies for the motor vehicles	0.5%	$3.8
463	Biodiesel and mixtures thereof	0.4%	$6.9
464	Coconut and other vegetable fibers	0.4%	$0.19
465	Live fish	0.4%	$0.34
466	Natural cork articles	0.4%	$0.66
467	Chocolate	0.3%	$15
468	Frozen fruits and nuts	0.3%	$3.8
469	Hat forms	0.3%	$0.14
470	Metalworking transfer machines	0.3%	$3.9
471	Particle board	0.3%	$7.3
472	Pitch coke	0.3%	$0.27
473	Tractors	0.3%	$48
474	Zinc oxide and peroxide	0.3%	$0.94
475	Citrus	0.2%	$3.2
476	Coffee	0.2%	$22
477	Crustaceans	0.2%	$13
478	Cut flowers	0.2%	$3.8
479	Gypsum	0.2%	$0.40
480	Halogens	0.2%	$0.67
481	Linseed	0.2%	$0.25
482	Motor vehicle chassis fitted with engine	0.2%	$0.39
483	Other fermented beverages	0.2%	$0.70
484	Other vegetables	0.2%	$11
485	Precious stones	0.2%	$4.7
486	Processed cereals	0.2%	$0.95
487	Raw lead	0.2%	$1.5
488	Seed oils	0.2%	$0.49
489	Semi-finished iron	0.2%	$5.6
490	Stainless steel ingots	0.2%	$1.1
491	Uncoated paper	0.2%	$3.7
492	Wheat flours	0.2%	$0.61
493	Wheat gluten	0.2%	$0.67
494	Aircraft launch gear	0.1%	$0.48
495	Bananas	0.1%	$1.7
496	Beer	0.1%	$3.9
497	Cereal flours	0.1%	$0.42
498	Chromium ore	0.1%
499	Cocoa powder	0.1%	$0.23
500	Nitrogenous fertilizers	0.1%	$2.3
501	Other vegetable residues	0.1%	$1.1
502	Precious metal watches	0.1%	$2.2
503	Raw sugar	0.1%	$2.5
504	Raw zinc	0.1%	$2.0
505	Sulphur	0.1%	$0.48
506	Tropical fruits	0.1%	$4.2
507	Unglazed ceramics	0.1%	$1.2
508	Water	0.1%	$0.67
509	Ammonia
510	Asphalt mixtures
511	Borax
512	Bovine
513	Bovine, sheep, and goat fat
514	Bulbs and roots
515	Butter
516	Calcium phosphates
517	Casein
518	Cement		$0.52
519	Cocoa beans
520	Cocoa butter
521	Cocoa paste
522	Coconut oil		$0.52
523	Coconuts, brazil nuts, and cashews
524	Cucumbers
525	Delivery trucks		$12
526	Diamonds		$0.93
527	Electricity
528	Grapes		$0.20
529	Handguns
530	Honey
531	Horses
532	Hot-rolled iron bars		$0.25
533	Iron reductions
534	Legumes		$0.13
535	Manganese ore
536	Melons
537	Molasses
538	Newsprint
539	Non-fillet fresh fish		$0.92
540	Oats
541	Olive oil
542	Other animal fats
543	Other fruits		$2.9
544	Other precious metal products		$2.9
545	Palm oil
546	Peat
547	Phosphatic fertilizers
548	Pig iron
549	Pigs
550	Planes, helicopters, and/or spacecraft		$0.14
551	Platinum		$0.32
552	Potassic fertilizers		$0.28
553	Pure olive oil
554	Rapeseed oil		$0.56
555	Raw aluminum		$2.7
556	Raw nickel		$0.48
557	Raw tin		$0.11
558	Refined copper		$2.3
559	Rolled tobacco		$0.49
560	Rubber		$0.40
561	Rye
562	Self-propelled rail transport
563	Semi chemical woodpulp
564	Sheep and goat meat
565	Silver		$0.48
566	Steel bars
567	Steel ingots		$0.16
568	Sulfite chemical woodpulp
569	Sulfuric acid
570	Titanium ore
571	Tomatoes
572	Uranium and thorium ore
573	Vanilla
574	Vermouth
575	Wine		$0.12
576	Zinc powder

About the data

We analyzed U.S. International Trade Commission data on goods imported for consumption in 2024. We used product descriptions from the Observatory of Economic Complexity to label the goods, and edited these descriptions lightly.

For the lists of major imports and exports, and the full searchable list, we grouped goods using the first four digits of their code in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which lists categories of products. For more specific lists of goods within these categories, we looked at the first six digits of the product code.

We excluded goods that are widely produced in the U.S., using export data to remove goods where the U.S. exports at least 50 percent of what it imports by value. (We did not do this for the critical minerals or imports by quantity data.)

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Related Topics:china consumer behavior Customs (Tariff)Donald J Featured Fees and Rates)Freight (Cargo)International Trade and World Market Prices (Fares Shopping and Retail trump

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Business

Do I have to transfer my 401(k) money when I retire?

Published
7 hours ago
on
December 21, 2025

By
Press Room

Dear Liz: When I retired, I had a small 401(k) with about $12,000 in it. Instead of rolling that money into an IRA, I took a distribution and paid taxes on it. I had no immediate need for the remaining funds, so eventually I opened a new IRA account and deposited the money.
I now realize I should have put it in a Roth IRA so I wouldn’t face double taxation on the money. This is the stupidest thing I’ve done in recent memory. Is there any legal mechanism I can use to get that money out and into a Roth without paying taxes the second time?
Answer: You made a mistake, but probably not the one you think.
You can’t contribute to an IRA — or a Roth IRA, for that matter — if you don’t have earned income. So if you’ve fully retired, you should contact your IRA administrator and let them know you need to withdraw your “excess contribution” as well as any earnings the contribution has made.
If you contributed this year, you have until your tax filing deadline — typically April 15, 2026 — to remove the funds without penalty. If you contributed in a previous year, you’ll typically face a 6% excise tax for each year the money remained in your account.
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Now, a warning about financial mistakes: They tend to become more common as we age. That can be incredibly unsettling, especially to do-it-yourselfers used to handling finances competently on their own. Retirement is a good time to start implementing some guardrails to protect ourselves and our money.
Hiring a tax pro would be a good first step. Anything to do with a retirement fund should be run past this pro first to make sure you’re following the tax rules.
Dear Liz: In response to a reader who asked about creating a will, you suggested options for low-cost online resources. That is great! But, I would encourage you to remind readers to designate beneficiaries on accounts and assets where that option is available.
While they should still have a will, many readers may not know that they can add beneficiaries to brokerage, checking, and savings accounts (in addition to IRA and retirement accounts) so that their assets will pass directly to the designated beneficiaries and not have to go through probate with the extra hassle, time and expense.
For those without a trust, designating beneficiaries may be the easiest way to pass on many of their assets. In California (and some other states), even houses may pass without probate with a transfer-on-death deed. Many readers may not know about the option to add beneficiaries, and you would do your readers a service by educating them about it.
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Answer: Anyone adding beneficiaries to accounts needs to be aware of some major potential drawbacks.
A big one involves settling the estate. If all available funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries, the person settling the estate may not have enough cash to do their job.
Beneficiary designations can also result in unintentionally unequal distributions if there’s more than one heir, and complications if the beneficiaries die first or aren’t changed appropriately as life circumstances change.
That’s not to say that beneficiary designations are the wrong choice, but they’re certainly not a one-size-fits-all option.
Dear Liz: Your recent column about advanced directives said that people could get a free version at PrepareForYourCare.org. I found there is a charge. Is this for all online directives?
Answer: Prepare is a free site supported by donations, grants and licensing agreements. If you were asked to pay, you either clicked the donate button or weren’t on the correct site.
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Liz Weston, Certified Financial Planner, is a personal finance columnist. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the “Contact” form at asklizweston.com.

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Business

President Trump Wants to Be Everywhere, All the Time

Published
17 hours ago
on
December 20, 2025

By
Press Room

To understand how Mr. Trump has achieved this omnipresence, The New York Times reviewed the first 329 days of his second term, finding at least one instance each day when he attracted the public’s attention to himself and his actions.

The review encompassed more than 250 media appearances, more than 320 official appearances, and more than 5,000 Truth Social posts or reposts. The analysis shows that while Mr. Trump has lagged his predecessors in his number of official appearances, he has pursued a raft of innovative methods to force himself into the public consciousness on a daily, and sometimes even hourly, basis.
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The battery of activity started from the moment he was inaugurated, when he traveled from the Capitol Building to the Capital One Arena to publicly sign a flurry of executive orders.

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19
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21

Releases convicted 2021 Capitol rioters

22

Says Putin can end war “easy way, or the hard way”
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23

Speaks at World Economic Forum

24
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Weighs shutting down FEMA

25

Hosts political rally in Las Vegas

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26

Complains that Colombia rejected migrants

27

Addresses House Republicans

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28

Removes Gen. Mark Milley’s security detail

29

Falsely claims condoms are being sent to Gaza

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30

Weighs in on helicopter collision

31

Shares more opinions on helicopter crash

Since then, he has stayed in the public eye in part by doing things no president has ever done. High-stakes Oval Office meetings, like his negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, are held on-camera and broadcast live on global news networks. His Q.-and-A. sessions with reporters frequently last an hour or more.
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He regularly airs his opinions – on social media, in discursive asides at rallies – about idiosyncratic subjects that range widely across the zeitgeist, from Sydney Sweeney’s sexy denim ads to the redesigned logo of the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain to the mysterious fate of the aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.

And his engagement with the news media has soared well beyond the start of his first administration.
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Through Dec. 14, Mr. Trump took reporters’ questions on 449 occasions, compared with 223 during the same period of his first term. On average, Mr. Trump has interacted with journalists roughly twice a day, doubling his rate from 2017, according to Martha Joynt Kumar, a Towson University political scientist who tracks presidential press interactions. Mr. Trump limits which news outlets can ask questions at small events, but in sheer volume, he is the most media-accessible modern president, and far outpaces his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden Jr.

“Reporters will be in my office asking me for the president’s reaction to a breaking news story,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in an interview. “And I’ll just say to them, ‘I don’t know, why don’t you ask him yourself in 30 minutes?’”

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Finding the Cameras

President Trump’s media appearances have soared this year, more than doubling both the Biden administration’s and those of his own first term.

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Note: Media appearances include interviews, opinion pieces, position papers, press conferences and informal Q.-and-A.s. Source: Roll Call Factbase. The New York Times

Many of his public moments go viral online, like his diatribe about restoring the name of the Washington Redskins, or the A.I.-generated video meme he posted of himself dribbling a soccer ball with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Oval Office. They take on a life of their own, rippling across social media and dissected and amplified by influencers and mass media platforms alike.
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The result is a president whose not-so-inner monologue is injected into our daily lives in myriad ways, when we are watching TV on the weekends or idly scrolling the web – a Greek chorus for our national narrative.

“He’s the most ubiquitous president ever,” said Douglas Brinkley, the presidential historian.

The media strategy aligns with his political strategy.

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Dating back to his years as an outspoken real estate developer and reality TV star, Mr. Trump has relished being unavoidable for comment. But at age 79, he has been outdoing his younger self. And there is a logic to his logorrhea.

Mr. Trump’s allies often speak of the political benefits of flooding the zone: pursuing so many policies, ideas, and dramatic restructurings of the normal ways of governance as to overwhelm the system. “All pedal, no brake,” as Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s one-time adviser, has called it.
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“We joke internally that he is our ultimate director of communications,” Ms. Leavitt said. “He has incredible media instincts, and he is the final decision maker on all policy, and he has been in a ‘flood the zone,’ ‘do as much as possible’ mindset since he walked into the Oval Office on Jan. 20.”

All presidents benefit from the awesome news-making powers of the office, with its agenda-setting influence over a dedicated global press corps. But Mr. Trump has outstripped his predecessors in whipsawing the public’s attention onto matters small and large – and limiting the level of scrutiny that any one shocking remark or policy proposal receives.

“People can really only focus on a handful of things a day,” said Bill Burton, a deputy White House press secretary under former President Barack Obama. “This attention flood is working for Trump because he is able to do an extraordinary amount of executive actions and very little of it can get attention.”
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Or as Mr. Brinkley put it: “He plays to win the day, every day, around the clock.”

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26
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27

28

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29

30

31
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1

Announces 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada

2

Puts dozens of U.S.A.I.D. staff on leave

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3

Says Canada should become 51st state

4

Proposes U.S. takeover of Gaza

5
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Swears in Pam Bondi as attorney general

6

Claims “billions” were stolen by U.S.A.I.D.

7

Names himself chairman of Kennedy Center
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8

Announces Biden’s order against plastic straws is “DEAD!”

10

Reverses Biden’s order against plastic straws
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11

Secures release of an American imprisoned in Russia

12

Calls rising inflation “BIDEN INFLATION”

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13

Announces “reciprocal” tariffs on all countries

14

Announces plans to demolish Rose Garden

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Massive AI Stargate Project under Trump admin reveals next steps

15

Promotes A.I. “Stargate Project”

17

Nominates election denier to be a U.S. attorney

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18

Has interview with Musk on Fox News

19

Announces he will end congestion pricing in N.Y.C.

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20

Calls for a balanced budget “NOW”

21

Has radio interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News

22
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Speaks at Conservative Political Action Conference

23

Appointees send email firing 2,000 U.S.A.I.D. workers

24
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Speaks with press alongside French president

Made by A.I.

25
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Posts A.I.-generated video of “Trump Gaza”

26

Hosts cabinet meeting featuring Musk

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27

Announces tariffs on Canada and Mexico

28

Berates Zelensky in fiery exchange

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23

24

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25

26

27
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28

1

Designates English as official language of the U.S.

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2

Announces a “crypto reserve”

3

4
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Says “we need Greenland” at State of the Union

5

Mocks Canada’s prime minister after a phone call with him

6

Cancels tariffs on Mexico
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7

Announces citizenship pathway for South Africans

8

Begins campaigning for the One Big Beautiful Bill

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9

Has interview with Fox News

10

Meets with technology executives at White House

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11

Promotes Tesla cars at White House

12

Hosts St. Patrick’s Day reception

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13

Threatens 200% tariff on Champagne

14

Hosts press gaggle before boarding Air Force One

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15

Orders military action against Houthis in Yemen

16

Has interview with Full Measure

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17

Claims Biden was an “autopen for a president”

18

Has interview with Fox News

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19

Speaks with Zelensky by phone

20

Settles with Paul Weiss law firm

21

Pushes back on Musk’s desire for top secret information
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22

Has phone interview with Clay Travis

I LOVE $TRUMP — SO COOL!!! The Greatest of them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

23
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24

Announces new tariffs on Venezuela

25
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Has interview with Newsmax

26

Announces new tariffs on cars and car parts

27

Says NPR and PBS should be “DEFUNDED”
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28

Speaks with new Canadian prime minister by phone

29

Has interview with Kristen Welker of NBC News
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30

Claims his agenda is hampered by “Radical Left Judges”

31

Thanks president of El Salvador for accepting migrant deportations

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30

31

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1

Settles with law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher

2

Announces tariff “Liberation Day”

3

Fires N.S.C. officials after meeting with Laura Loomer
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4

Accuses Fed chair of “PLAYING POLITICS!”

5

Says trade war with China “won’t be easy”

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6

Hosts press gaggle on Air Force One

7

Imposes additional 50% tariff on China

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8

Gives speech promoting coal production

9

Increases tariffs on China to 125%

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10

Threatens to withhold funds from sanctuary cities

11

Settles with law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft

12

Exempts smartphones from tariffs
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13

Hosts press gaggle aboard Air Force One

14
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Hosts college football champions at White House

15

Threatens Harvard’s tax exempt status

16

Meets with Japan’s trade delegation
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17

Requests names of Harvard’s foreign donors

18

Swears in Mehmet Oz as head of Medicare and Medicaid
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RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO DEMOCRACY. It is a total, and very fraudulent, JOKE! https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5253950-ranked-choice-voting-unpopular-legislatures/

19

Calls ranked-choice voting threat to democracy

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20

Defends deportation of man mistakenly sent to El Salvador

21

Laments court process needed to deport migrants

22

Successfully pressures “60 Minutes” producer to resign
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23

Sues Perkins Coie law firm

24

Has interview with BlazeTV
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25

Praises N.F.L. scion for “PHENOMENAL GENES”

26

Meets with Russia and Ukraine

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27

Threatens a Democratic fund-raising arm

28

Announces football stadium for D.C.

29
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After pope dies, Trump jokes, “I’d like to be pope”

30

Has interview with NewsNation on his 100th day in office

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His commentary takes on a life of its own.

One of Mr. Trump’s political assets is his instinct for virality.

With a natural feel for the web, Mr. Trump has a knack for amplifying wacky memes and pop culture curios that can drive days of online discourse. Sometimes, coverage of his offhand remarks or late-night social media posts can crowd out the more significant, norm-shattering changes he is making to American governance.
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Late one Friday night in May, the president posted an obviously A.I.-generated image of himself as the pope. It struck a nerve.

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27
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28

29

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30

1

Gives graduation speech at University of Alabama

Made by A.I.
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2

Posts A.I. picture of himself as pope

Can it be so that Judges aren’t allowing the USA to Deport Criminals, including Murderers, out of our Country and back to where they came from? If this is so, our Country, as we know it, is finished! Americans will have to get used to a very different, crime filled, LIFE. This is not what our Founders had in mind!!!

3
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Criticizes judges over deportations

4

Has interview with NBC News

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5

Announces N.F.L. draft will happen in D.C.

6

Meets with Canadian prime minister at White House

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7

Proclaims May 8 “Victory Day” for World War II

8

Announces U.K. trade deal

9
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Launches self-deportation program for migrants

10

Announces India and Pakistan cease-fire

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So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA

11

Writes that he will accept luxury jet from Qatar

12

Has interview with Fox News en route to Middle East
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13

Defends gifted jet from Qatar

14

Hosts press gaggle aboard Air Force One
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15

Hosts press gaggle aboard Air Force One

16

Says Taylor Swift is “no longer ‘HOT’” after criticizing her
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17

Accuses Joe Biden of “autopen” fraud

18

Writes he is “saddened” to hear of Biden’s cancer diagnosis

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19

Supreme Court lets Trump lift deportation protections

20

Hosts press gaggle before Capitol meeting

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21

Considers making Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public

22

Hosts “exclusive” dinner for memecoin investors

23

Announces military parade
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24

Speaks at the Military Academy commencement

25

Extends E.U. tariff deadline

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26

Writes that Putin has “gone absolutely CRAZY”

27

Threatens California’s funding over trans athletes

28
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Attends swearing in of Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney

29

Summons Fed chair to White House for first meeting

30
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Attends news conference with Elon Musk

31

Accuses Letitia James of mortgage fraud

Mr. Trump had already courted controversy days earlier, after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
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“I’d like to be pope,” the president told reporters who asked about who should become the next pontiff. “That would be my number one choice.”

The comment disturbed some Catholics, who said the notion was crude and insensitive. That reaction seemed only to prompt Mr. Trump to double down, posting the A.I.-generated image to his Truth Social account days later. By the weekend it had become a cultural phenomenon, mocked on “Saturday Night Live” and called out by experts as an example of misleading A.I. content.
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After Mr. Trump posts the A.I. image …

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May 2

Trump posts A.I. image of himself as Pope

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… some Catholics were outraged, prompting a news cycle focused on the controversy …

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There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.
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May 3

NYS Catholic Conference says “do not mock us”

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May 3

“Saturday Night Live” covers fake image

May 3
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Vatican asked about image, declines to comment

May 4
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Cardinal Joseph Tobin of New Jersey criticizes image as “not good”

May 4

JD Vance defends Trump on X, calling it a joke
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… before Mr. Trump suggested he had nothing to do with it.

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Says “the Catholics loved it”

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Mr. Trump, who is not Catholic, had plenty of defenders, too. They said his commentary and the A.I. image were simply jokes, part of the president’s unique comedic style.

“As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, wrote on X.

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Aides insist Trump will not abandon tariffs

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Ties firebombing attack in Colorado to border policy

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A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!

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Promises “large scale fines” for California over trans athletes

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Speaks with Putin by phone

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Inspects site of the new ballroom

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Lauds the National Guard’s role in L.A.
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Threatens ICE protesters who spit on police

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Claims L.A. would be in trouble without National Guard

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Visits the Kennedy Center

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Announces visa pathway via the “Trump Card”

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Has interview with ABC News

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Threatens to attack Iran while at the G7 meeting

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Leaves the G7 meeting early
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Meets with Juventus Football Club

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Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

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Writes there are “too many non-working holidays”

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Celebrates ruling allowing the National Guard in California

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Has interview with Bret Baier from Fox News

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Celebrates bomb strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities

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Abruptly announces Gaza-Israel cease-fire, surprising aides
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Curses on camera over Israel-Gaza fighting

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Writes that Zohran Mamdani is a “Communist Lunatic”
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Hosts One, Big, Beautiful Bill event

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Holds press conference at the White House
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Writes that Benjamin Netanyahu is a “War Hero”

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Has interview with Fox News

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Announces Trump Fragrances

In his quest for attention, the president is often aided by a cottage industry of right-wing influencers and activists who are primed to syndicate, reinforce and defend whatever content he pushes out each day. For this conservative media ecosystem, Mr. Trump’s messaging and commentary are the raw fuel that drives clicks, shares and views.
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On June 7, the president’s visit to a raucous U.F.C. fight – complete with a “Trump dance” entrance into the arena – generated an immediate spike in online interest, including about 50,000 posts on X. Five days later, when he promoted a “Trump gold card” visa, his announcement led to roughly 30,000 posts on X.

A barrage that distracts from bad news.

One pattern in Mr. Trump’s behavior: When his administration is faced with bad news, he launches a fusillade of distraction.
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This can take the form of outlandish, out-of-left-field claims about political opponents. Or he might weigh in on a pop culture subject far afield from Washington politics – from the ratings of late-night hosts like Seth Meyers to the physical appearance of a megastar like Taylor Swift.

The events of July 2025 offer a case in point.
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Takes tour of “Alligator Alcatraz”

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Settles “60 Minutes” lawsuit for $16 million

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House approves the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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Signs One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law
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This July 4th weekend I want to give a big “THANK YOU!” to the Heroic ICE Officers fighting every day to reclaim our Sovereignty and Freedom. One of the most exciting parts of the “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT” is that it includes ALL of the Funding and Resources that ICE needs to carry out the Largest Mass Deportation Operation in History. Our Brave ICE Officers, who are under daily violent assault, will finally have the tools and support that they need. We will not let America become a Third World Country filled with Crime, failing Schools, collapsing Hospitals, and total Social Dysfunction. It’s called “REMIGRATION” and, it will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

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Says ICE officers face “daily violent assault”

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Says Elon Musk has gone “off the rails”

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Says the prosecution of Brazil’s president is a “WITCH HUNT”

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Writes that “no extensions will be granted” on tariffs
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Criticizes “Too Late” Fed chair

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Pushes to defund NPR and PBS

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Suggests arresting ICE protesters “using whatever means necessary”

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Pushes back on the criticism of Pam Bondi over Epstein

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Has interview at FIFA match

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Joins FIFA’s Club World Cup celebrations

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Claims Rep. Adam Schiff engaged in mortgage fraud

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Calls Epstein case a “hoax” after calls to release files

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Calls Epstein birthday letter “fake”
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Signs GENIUS Act for cryptocurrencies

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Asks D.O.J. to release grand jury testimony on Epstein

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Posts about the Washington Commanders’s name

Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and numerous others participated in this, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!. Irrefutable EVIDENCE. A major threat to our Country!!!

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Claims “Russia hoax” was “crime of the century”
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Criticizes Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon

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Wants A.I. to be free of “partisan bias”

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Feuds over spending during tour with the Fed chair

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Speaks with reporters while traveling to Scotland
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Claims Beyoncé was paid millions to endorse Kamala Harris

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Announces trade deal with the E.U.
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Meets with the U.K. prime minister

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Celebrates the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show
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Announces an additional 25% tariff on India

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Officially announces the new East Wing ballroom

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As the Jeffrey Epstein files returned to the news – along with speculation that Mr. Trump might appear in them – the president embarked on a breathtaking series of tangents. Mr. Trump claimed without evidence that former President Bill Clinton had bankrolled an effort by senior intelligence officials to frame him for a crime, mused about stripping the actress Rosie O’Donnell of her U.S. citizenship, and accused the singer Beyoncé of accepting millions of dollars to endorse his erstwhile rival, former Vice President Kamala Harris.

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On July 8, the F.B.I. said it would not declassify more Epstein files.

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July 8

F.B.I. publishes memo about Epstein files
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Over the following days, Mr. Trump seemed to lash out in every direction.

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Claimed intelligence officials tried to frame him

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Pushed to defund NPR and PBS

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Directed ICE to arrest protesters

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Threatened Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship

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Claimed Adam Schiff engaged in mortgage fraud
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On July 18, the Justice Department filed a request to unseal grand jury testimony about Mr. Epstein, again raising questions about Mr. Trump’s involvement. The president promptly lobbed insults at late-night talk show hosts, dismissed the Epstein affair as “fake news” and shared fresh claims about a supposed Obama administration plot to undermine him after the 2016 election.

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On July 18, the Department of Justice filed a request — later denied — to unseal grand jury testimony.

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July 18
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Request filed to unseal grand jury testimony

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Over the following days, Mr. Trump bounced from topic to topic.

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Criticized Washington Commanders name
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Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and numerous others participated in this, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!. Irrefutable EVIDENCE. A major threat to our Country!!!

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Called the “Russia hoax” the “crime of the century”
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Called Epstein controversy “fake news”

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Criticized Kimmel and Fallon

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Criticized Federal Reserve chairman

On July 25, The Wall Street Journal published a major scoop: The paper had unearthed a risqué birthday letter that Mr. Trump had apparently written to Mr. Epstein in 2003. Mr. Trump responded with his attack on Beyoncé and revived his threat to revoke the broadcast licenses of TV networks. Then he announced the imminent construction of an enormous gilded ballroom at the White House, at a cost of $200 million. (He has since revised the cost upward to $400 million.)
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Asked if there was a deliberate strategy to distract from negative news, Ms. Leavitt noted that every administration seeks to minimize unhelpful headlines.

“Yes, there have been times in which we’ve tried to do that, but also often it just happens naturally, because the president is willing to weigh in on so many subjects,” she said. “Sometimes it’s really not deliberate. It’s just him speaking his mind on whatever news cycle or news story is brought to him in that moment.”

He has added tricks to his arsenal.

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Mr. Trump’s devotion to Truth Social mirrors the hair-trigger Twitter habit of his first term; on one recent December evening, he posted 158 times between 9 p.m. and midnight. And he has continued to appear on Fox News with certain preferred hosts.

But this year, he has added to his media arsenal by appearing in many more public spaces that fall outside of a president’s typical itinerary.
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Mr. Trump has stopped by a Washington Commanders N.F.L. game, popped up in the New York Yankees locker room, attended the Ryder Cup golf tournament and the men’s tennis final at the U.S. Open, sat ringside at numerous U.F.C. fights, and traveled to the Daytona 500. He is the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. When FIFA staged the Club World Cup final in New Jersey, Mr. Trump not only attended, but joined the winning team onstage for the trophy ceremony.

The net effect is a sense of inescapability, that no corner of American life remains Trump-free – which itself amounts to a potent expression of presidential authority and command. “His power, in part,” said Mr. Burton, the former Obama aide, “comes from the attention that people give him, or that he forces on them.”

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Orders nuclear submarines to position around Russia

“NEW BOMBSHELLS IN THE RUSSIA COLLUSION HOAX”

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Posts Fox News clip on “new bombshells” in 2016 Russia inquiry
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Head of the Bureau of of Labor Statistics did the same thing just before the Presidential Election, when she lifted the numbers for jobs to an all time high. I then won the Election, anyway, and she readjusted the numbers downward, calling it a mistake, of almost one million jobs. A SCAM! She did it again, with another massive “correction,” and got FIRED! She had the biggest miscalculations in over 50 years.

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Claims ex-B.L.S. commissioner tried influencing election

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Posts about Sydney Sweeney ad

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Makes unexpected walk on roof of White House

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Accepts unique plaque from Tim Cook

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Criticizes Intel’s chief executive over ties to China

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Removes head of I.R.S. after 2 months
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On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT

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Says he “will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C.”

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The Press Conference on Crime and “Beautification” will be held tomorrow, at 10:00 A.M. EST, in the Press Briefing Room, and it will not only involve ending the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nation’s Capital, but will also be about Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital. We are not going to allow people to spend $3.1 Billion Dollars on fixing up a building, like the Federal Reserve, which could have been done in a far more elegant and time sensitive manner for $50 to $100 Million Dollars. The Renovation would have actually been better, and we would have saved $3 Billion Dollars, Traffic Jams, and never-ending Construction. The Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive. The American Public is not going to put up with it any longer. Just like I took care of the Border, where you had ZERO Illegals coming across last month, from millions the year before, I will take care of our cherished Capital, and we will make it, truly, GREAT AGAIN! Before the tents, squalor, filth, and Crime, it was the most beautiful Capital in the World. It will soon be that again. Thank you for your attention to this matter — See you tomorrow at 10 A.M.!

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Announces news conference on “beautification” of D.C.

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Meets with Intel’s chief executive
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Trillions of Dollars are being taken in on Tariffs, which has been incredible for our Country, its Stock Market, its General Wealth, and just about everything else. It has been proven, that even at this late stage, Tariffs have not caused Inflation, or any other problems for America, other than massive amounts of CASH pouring into our Treasury’s coffers. Also, it has been shown that, for the most part, Consumers aren’t even paying these Tariffs, it is mostly Companies and Governments, many of them Foreign, picking up the tabs.

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Claims “consumers aren’t even paying” tariffs

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Criticizes coverage of planned meeting with Putin

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Has radio interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News

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Meets with Putin in Alaska

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Backs off Ukraine cease-fire demand

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If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA

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Claims to have stopped 6 wars

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Meets Zelensky and European leaders
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Claims Smithsonian is “WOKE”

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Calls windmills and solar “SCAM OF THE CENTURY”

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Celebrates victory over Letitia James

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Announces 10% U.S. stake in Intel

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Writes Keegan Bradley should be Ryder Cup captain
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Defends ex-M.L.B. pitcher Roger Clemens on doping rumors

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Wants to rename Department of Defense “Department of War”

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Weighs in on Cracker Barrel logo

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Writes that George Soros should be charged with RICO

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Suggests he will interfere with anti-crime efforts in Chicago
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Has interview with The Daily Caller

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Posts about stone and marble used at White House
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Claims D.C. is now “A CRIME FREE ZONE”

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Says Rudy Giuliani will get Medal of Freedom

CHICAGO IS THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!

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Calls Chicago “MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”

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Threatens Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship

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Posts article supporting review of the Smithsonian
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The confused and badly failing Democrat Party did nothing about Jeffrey Epstein while he was alive except befriend him, socialize with him, travel to his Island, and take his money! They knew everything there was to know about Epstein, but now, years after his death, they, out of nowhere, are seeming to show such love and heartfelt concern for his victims. Does anybody really believe that? Where were they during his very public trials, and for all of those years before his death? The answer is, “nowhere to be found.” The now dying (after the DOJ gave thousands of pages of documents in full compliance with a very comprehensive and exacting Subpoena from Congress!) Epstein case was only brought back to life by the Radical Left Democrats because they are doing so poorly, with the lowest poll numbers in the history of the Party (16%), while the Republicans are doing so well, among the highest approval numbers the Party has ever had! The Dems don’t care about the victims, as proven by the fact that they never did before. This is merely another Democrat HOAX, just like Russia, Russia, Russia, and all of the others, in order to deflect and distract from the great success of a Republican President, and the record setting failure of the previous Administration, and the Democrat Party. The Department of Justice has done its job, they have given everything requested of them. It’s time to end the Democrat Epstein Hoax, and give the Republicans credit for the great, even legendary, job that they are doing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

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Posts about “Democrat Epstein Hoax”

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Made by A.I.

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Ties Defense Department to ICE deportations

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Attends U.S. Open trophy ceremony

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Criticizes Joe Biden over autopen

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Addresses media outside Joe’s Seafood in D.C.

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Announces Charlie Kirk’s death

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Has interview with Fox and Friends

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Has phone interview with Fox News Digital

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Hosts press gaggle before boarding Air Force One

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Threatens N.Y.C.’s funding over Zohran Mamdani

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The Republicans are going to do a Midterm Convention in order to show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024. Time and place to be determined. Stay tuned, it will be quite the Event, and very exciting! President DJT

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Announces midterm convention idea

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Declares Antifa a terrorist organization

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Mocks Jimmy Kimmel’s performance as Oscars host

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Signs executive order for Trump Gold Card visas

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Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia???

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Apparently accidentally posts private email to Pam Bondi

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Attends Charlie Kirk’s memorial
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Complains about U.N. escalator issues

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Tells law enforcement to target “organized political violence” by nonprofits
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Says he will declassify documents on Amelia Earhart

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Claims F.B.I. agents were placed into Jan. 6 crowd

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Has interview with Robert Costa of CBS News

Made by A.I.

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Posts A.I. video of Democrats

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Trump and Hegseth address military leaders
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Can it ever be too much?

In the fall of 2009, President Barack Obama appeared on David Letterman’s talk show, gave interviews to CNBC and Men’s Health magazine, and made the rounds of all five major network Sunday shows. Washington was abuzz about whether he was overexposed.
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That debate sounds quaint today. But the question of whether a president can be too visible remains open.

“The public is being desensitized” to Mr. Trump’s omnipresence, argued Mr. Brinkley, the historian. “It starts becoming blather. The enemy for Trump isn’t Democrats; it’s the public being bored with the show.”

Ms. Leavitt said that if there was a risk to his ubiquity, “President Trump would not be president right now.” She added: “He is a businessman who speaks his mind and tells it like it is, and sometimes people don’t like that. But obviously the vast majority of our country does, or else he wouldn’t be in this office.”
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Reports say Trump “determined” U.S. at war with drug cartels

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Announces drug boat is seized off Venezuela

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Announces possible Israel-Hamas cease-fire

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Announces White House U.F.C. fight

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Meets with Canadian prime minister at White House

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Calls Jack Smith “a real sleazebag!”

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Does telephone interview with Fox News

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Cites op-ed saying he should win Nobel Peace Prize

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Announces additional 100% tariff on China

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Posts design for “Trump arch” in D.C.

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Speaks to press gaggle on Air Force One

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Attends Israel-Hamas peace signing

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Awards Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk

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Holds news conference on migrant crime
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Speaks with Putin by phone

17

Commutes George Santos’s sentence

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Made by A.I.

18

Posts crude A.I.-generated video

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Interviews with Fox Business

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Demands Dept. of Justice pay him for legal cases

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Meets with Secretary General of NATO
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Justifies cutting trade talks with Canada over ad
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Does press gaggle on Air Force One

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Meets with Malaysian leaders

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Speaks to press gaggle aboard Air Force One

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Addresses troops in Japan

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Instructs military to restart nuclear weapons testing
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This will hurt American citizens, and Republicans will not let it happen. It is now time for the Republicans to play their “TRUMP CARD,” and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!

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Says to get rid of the filibuster

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Posts about Lincoln Bedroom bathroom renovation

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Remember, Republicans, regardless of the Schumer Shutdown, the Democrats will terminate the Filibuster the first chance they get. They will Pack the Supreme Court, pick up two States, and add at least 8 Electoral Votes. Their two objectors are gone!!! Don’t be WEAK AND STUPID. FIGHT,FIGHT, FIGHT! WIN, WIN, WIN! We will immediately END the Extortionist Shutdown, get ALL of our agenda passed, and make life so good for Americans that these DERANGED DEMOCRAT politicians will never again have the chance to DESTROY AMERICA! Republicans, you will rue the day that you didn’t TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!! BE TOUGH, BE SMART, AND WIN!!! This is much bigger than the Shutdown, this is the survival of our Country!

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Wants to “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!!”

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Has interview with “60 Minutes”

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Attends virtual tele-rally for Jack Ciattarelli

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“TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,” according to Pollsters.

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Blames election losses on shutdown

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Has interview with Fox News
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Announces some lower prescription drug prices

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Calls Viktor Orban of Hungary “beloved”

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Proposes 50-year mortgages

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Does interview on Fox Sports

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Has interview with Fox News

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Has phone interview with ESPN

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Signs bill ending government shutdown

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Signs an executive order on foster care

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Says Marjorie Taylor Greene “betrayed the entire Republican Party”

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Talks to reporters before Air Force One departure

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Says he “normalized” inflation
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Privately signs bill releasing Epstein files

Made by A.I.

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Posts A.I.-generated video with Cristiano Ronaldo

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Meets with Zohran Mamdani

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Celebrates Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation

Made by A.I.

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Re-posts A.I.-generated QAnon meme

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Pentagon investigates Democrats over “seditious” post

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”Rush Hour” sequel announced after Trump push
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Celebrates dismissal of Georgia case against him

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Vows to ban migration from “Third World countries”

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Declares Biden’s orders signed by autopen “hereby terminated”

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Announces airspace over Venezuela “TO BE CLOSED”

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Talks to press gaggle before boarding Air Force One

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Pardons former president of Honduras

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Calls Somalis “garbage” in xenophobic rant

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Pardons congressman indicted for bribery
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Changes architects for White House ballroom

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Receives inaugural FIFA Peace Prize
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Hosts Kennedy Center Honors medal presentation

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Weighs in on Netflix-Warner Bros. deal
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Says military operations could expand to Mexico and Colombia

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Calls concerns about affordability “a hoax” at rally
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Says U.S. seized oil tanker off Venezuela

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Signs executive order blocking state A.I. laws
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Announces cease-fire between Cambodia and Thailand

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Speaks with media before and after trip on Marine One
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Calls “Trump arc” the domestic policy chief’s “primary thing”

During Mr. Trump’s first term, the public eventually tired of his frenzied pace. And in some ways, Mr. Trump appears to be slowing down physically as he approaches his 80th birthday in June (which he will celebrate in part by staging a nationally broadcast U.F.C. fight on the White House lawn). He has appeared to doze at some Oval Office meetings, and he is holding fewer formal public events than he did at this point in 2017.
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Still, Mr. Trump and his team have embraced the everywhere-all-at-once nature of modern media. Average Americans, busy with work and family, do not tune in for daytime news conferences or Cabinet meetings. And 6:30 p.m. newscasts and local newspapers are no longer the primary vessels by which Americans learn about their commander-in-chief.

Instead, politics now suffuses our lives as a kind of ambient noise – via TikTok videos, social media posts, YouTube talk shows and family Facebook messages – never fully separate from our leisure pursuits. “Right now the game is attention, in terms of what’s culturally breaking through,” Mr. Burton said. “The fact that so much message exists is the point.”
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Mr. Trump has both propelled this merging of culture and politics, and continues to strategically exploit it. In December, he became the first president to personally host the Kennedy Center Honors, comparing himself onstage to Johnny Carson and musing that he would do a better job than Jimmy Kimmel.

“This is the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center,” Mr. Trump told the crowd. “Not even a contest. There has never been anything like it.”

His performance will air in prime time on CBS on Dec. 23.
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Photo and video sources: Graham Dickie/The New York Times; Doug Mills/The New York Times; Roll Call Factba.se; PBS; Mauro Pimentel/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; Kenny Holston/The New York Times; The New York Times; Annabelle Gordon/Reuters; Eric Lee/The New York Times; Fox; Cheriss May for The New York Times; Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press; Margo Martin, via Storyful; Mark Abramson for The New York Times; Global News; Al Drago/Getty Images; Fox News; Dave Sanders for The New York Times; Pete Marovich for The New York Times; Ted Shaffrey/Associated Press … Show all

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Business

Why is Trump’s media company getting involved with nuclear power?

Published
19 hours ago
on
December 20, 2025

By
Press Room

President Trump’s media company is merging with a nuclear fusion energy firm in a $6-billion deal aimed at generating more power amid growing demand from power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers.
The merger between Trump Media & Technology and TAE Technologies could lead to one of the world’s first publicly traded fusion energy companies, the two companies said Thursday.
What is TAE Technologies?

TAE Technologies is a private company based in Foothill Ranch, Calif. It has been raising funds for commercial-scale nuclear fusion, a method of energy production that supporters say could revolutionize access to electricity. Founded in 1998, the company has built and operated five fusion reactors and raised more than $1.3 billion.
Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun to produce potentially limitless energy. Experts say it hasn’t been achieved on a large scale because the process is volatile and expensive. TAE is trying to develop the technology needed to reduce the size, cost and complexity of fusion reactors.
“Our talented team, through its commitment and dedication to science, is poised to solve the immense global challenge of energy scarcity,” TAE Chief Executive Michl Binderbauer said in a statement. “Recent breakthroughs have prepared us to… commercialize our fusion technology.”
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What is the political history of Truth Social?

Truth Social was launched in 2022 as Trump created an alternative to mainstream social media, which was increasingly restricting and blocking his posts and profiles, as well as those of his allies and supporters. It began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange through a 2024 merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
While most social media platforms have lifted restrictions on Trump’s posts, he still primarily posts on his own platform.
Though Trump and companies he is associated with control more than a 40% stake in the company, much of his investment is managed by others to avoid a conflict of interest during his term as president. Some analysts suggest his indirect association with a new company in a highly regulated industry could also lead to issues.
TAE will need significant investment and regulation to advance, which makes Trump’s ties a major conflict, Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, told the Associated Press.
“He’s jumping into this industry just like he jumped into cryptocurrency a couple of years ago,” Painter said. “Just as the United States government is gonna get all involved in it. And it’s so obvious that there’s a huge conflict of interest.”
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Trump Media shares, which had fallen more than 80% from their 2024 peak, have skyrocketed around 50% since the deal was announced.
The company now has a market value of more than $4.5 billion.
Why are the companies merging?

The parent company of Trump’s social media site, Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology, previously had little to do with energy production. The company agreed to merge with Alphabet-backed TAE Technologies, with the aim of paving the way for easier access to abundant electricity.
The merger aims to help both companies diversify and raise more money.
It is an attempt to combine Trump Media’s “significant access to capital” with TAE’s “leading fusion technology,” the companies said in a release.
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They plan to begin construction in 2026 on the first-ever utility-scale fusion power plant.
“Fusion power plants are expected to provide economic, abundant and dependable electricity that would help America win the AI revolution,” the release said.
The boom in popularity of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT has created a seemingly insatiable new demand for power.
The Georgia Institute of Technology says modern AI data centers use as much electricity as a small city. As AI models grow, they demand even more power.
What are the terms of the deal?

The all-stock transaction announced this week values each share of TAE Technologies at $53.89, although it is a private company. Trump Media has agreed to provide $200 million in cash to TAE upon closing, expected in mid-2026.
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When the merger is complete, TAE and Trump Media shareholders will each own about 50% of the combined company.
Trump Media will be the holding company for TAE, TAE Power Solutions and TAE Life Sciences.

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