Trump’s newest executive order today was signed so the government can “aggressively promote and use American-made goods.” The order doesn’t do much to directly affect policy besides ordering a series of agency reviews on how to prioritize American labor, including reforming H1-B visa laws, which permit companies to bring in skilled foreign labor.
Twitter has been fast to point out the hypocrisy of a man encouraging companies to “Buy American,” when his own business empire has been largely built by profiting off the backs of cheap foreign labor. Some of the most damning responses can be found below:
#BuyAmerican, Mr. President? https://t.co/6j9DRxhiFH pic.twitter.com/3cGJUPGjms
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 18, 2017
Trump: "Buy American and Hire American."
Except Trump properties:
Mar-a-Lago https://t.co/KTjBZhXP9B
NY Golf Course https://t.co/X7hDCGqTWC pic.twitter.com/KBqCXSPpwp— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 18, 2017
Trump touts "Buy American, Hire American" policy today. Unfortunately it's not a policy his businesses follow
Do as he says not as he does pic.twitter.com/z1D5Xt7e22
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) April 18, 2017
The only thing American that Trump sells is good old American BS. Buy American programs are as effective as sugar pills.
— Steve Redmond (@sjredmond) April 18, 2017
New EOrder is dogshit. Feds ALREADY hv to "buy American". H1B visa holders only get hired when there are no US Cit to fill positions.
— Chris Ex GOP (@DCExec1969) April 18, 2017
#BuyAmerican (except Keystone steel) #HireAmerican (except Ivanka's fashion line) https://t.co/L9Gk7yXW3r
— Translate Trump (@TranslateRealDT) April 18, 2017
@TheOrigFRODO @Rschooley Did anyone mention the "Buy American" initiative to Ivanka? pic.twitter.com/reEAzB5QJ6
— Lisa Bennett (@Lisab824) April 18, 2017
Will Trump sign his "Buy American, Hire American" EO wearing one of his Made in China shirts with his Hired from Slovenia bride at his side?
— Ron Asher (@rmasher2) April 18, 2017
@CNN "Everything" um except for clothes and ties especially for the Trump collection because we need to keep the prices low on them #BuyAmerican
— AfricanTrump (@AfricanPrezSays) April 18, 2017
How ironic that today while @realDonaldTrump was signing a buy American EO I was taking this photo at @tjmaxx. pic.twitter.com/fskSrZXMLi
— WildcatNV (@Cabinbabe3) April 18, 2017
“The president just signed an order to ‘buy American,” said CNN’s Jake Tapper today. “So wait, does that mean he wants me to stop buying Trump products?”
“As for hiring American, a CNN review found that the president as a corporate head has hired more than 1300 foreign guest workers to work at his various businesses here in the U.S., including requesting 78 visas to staff his two Florida properties for this year,” Tapper added.
Nathan Wellman is a Los Angeles-based journalist, author, and playwright. His less-political Youtube channel can be found here. Follow him on Twitter: @LightningWOW
