In President Donald Trump’s idealized framing, the United States was at its zenith in the 1890s. The Republican has said repeatedly, “We were at our richest from 1870 to 1913.

McKinley, Garfield point the way for the 47th president. President Trump foresees “a period of transition” before his tariffs replicate the Gilded Age economic boom. With opponents warning about that “pain,” he can look to predecessors of that era for guidance on America’s nerves.

President Trump idealizes the Gilded Age, emphasizing high tariffs and low interest rates to stimulate the economy. He praises President McKinley's tariff policies, despite experts noting the era's inequality and corruption.

The desire to recreate the Gilded Age is fueled by Trump’s fondness for tariffs. It’s also why he praises the nation’s 25th president, William McKinley, a Republican who was in office from 1897 until being assassinated in 1901.