When President Donald Trump ran for the White House in 2016, he promised to remember the forgotten men and women of America.
Elites in Washington D.C. and America’s most powerful institutions had rigged the system against them, outsourcing their jobs and overregulating their industries.
Under President Joe Biden’s presidency, when coal workers were told to “go build solar panels” by John Kerry, blue-collar wages were down nearly two percent while inflation was raging at 8 percent.
On January 20, 2025, this forced decline was reversed.
“The ongoing boom in real blue-collar wage growth continues to power an economic revival, and wages are up 1.4% at an annualized rate. Under President Trump, we have seen the fastest increases ever recorded to start a new term in the last 60 years,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent details.
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But it isn’t just a change from Biden. The wage growth for blue-collar workers is the strongest real wage growth in 60 years, far surpassing the accomplishments of previous presidents. The boom is driven by tariffs and deregulation.
"'Made in America' is not just a tagline—it’s an economic and national security priority of this Administration. The President’s reciprocal trade agenda means better-paying American jobs making beautiful American-made cars, appliances, and other goods," the White House argues.
Further, President Trump’s mass deportation efforts are paying off. Literally.
“For too long, Washington ignored how mass illegal immigration artificially suppressed wages, hurting working-class Americans—especially young men. But under President Trump, we now have a secure border, a blue-collar wage boom, and major investments from trade deals. Our president is restoring the greatest economy in the world, creating high-paying jobs to help American workers find their footing again,” Bessent adds.
A whole-of-government approach is getting the job done and eliminating a major root cause of wage destruction for American workers.
"Homeland Security Investigation has been zeroing in on worksite enforcement operations to protect American businesses. Since Jan. 20, HSI has arrested more than 1000 illegal workers and proposed over $1 million in fines against businesses that exploit and hire illegal workers,” Deputy Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan says.
Since January, HSI has broken up a number of human smuggling rings exploiting illegal labor and previously importing thousands of illegal workers into the United States. Nearly 2 million illegal aliens have self-deported — leaving their previous jobs open and available to legal, unexploited labor.
"In her first 200 days as secretary, DHS also launched an international, multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning illegal aliens to LEAVE NOW because if they don’t, we will arrest them and deport them. This new data shows illegal aliens are hearing our message," DHS released in a statement. "Secretary Noem ended the CBP One App, which allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the country, and it has been transformed into the CBP Home App. Part of Operation Homecoming, the CBP Home App allows illegal aliens to take control of their departure. The American people are generously offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now.”
And finally, President Trump wants to reallocate government grants from woke and discriminatory institutions to trade schools.
"I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!” Trump said in May.
It’s a Golden Age in America, and the blue-collar working class is benefiting. Bigly.
