CaballeroIn the April 30 edition of the Wilson Post, Wilson County House Rep. Andy Ogles’ opinion column sang the praises of Donald Trump’s 4-month-old economic policies and the positive impact they have had on Middle Tennessee manufacturing. He opened by blaming all the country’s problems and the loss of the American Dream on Joe Biden. That’s a brave and unique look by Mr. Ogles.
There is no evidence that Joe Biden’s policies directly caused widespread shutdowns of American factories. In fact, Biden prioritized policies aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which spurred record investments in domestic manufacturing, especially in semiconductors and clean energy.
Billions of dollars were invested in new factories, and the U.S. saw a net increase in manufacturing jobs since the pandemic recession; and Biden’s “catastrophic economic policies” made the U.S. economy the envy of the world after the pandemic.
Trump’s tariff policies have created a complex and often challenging environment for manufacturing job growth in Wilson County. The intent behind the tariffs was to protect and revitalize American manufacturing by making foreign imports more expensive and encouraging domestic production. However, the real-world impact in Wilson County and Tennessee has been mixed, with significant pressure on local manufacturers and small businesses.
Several Tennessee business owners, including those in manufacturing, have reported that sharply increased tariffs on Chinese imports have dramatically raised the cost of materials and components essential to their operations. For companies in Wilson County that rely on imported goods for assembly or finished products, these added costs have threatened profitability and, in some cases, the viability of entire businesses.
Mr. Ogles wants us to believe that Trump policies revitalized the “forgotten worker” into an American icon. Mr. Ogles cited some Middle Tennessee manufacturing companies that have directly benefitted from Mr. Trump’s policies and the towns they are in as “once -forgotten communities.”
Not only did Mr. Ogles play fast and loose with the facts but he also overplayed his “forgotten worker” hand.
*Schneider Electric began establishing its manufacturing presence in Mt. Juliet in 2024, before Mr. Trump’s “beautiful tariffs,” and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who considers Mt. Juliet a forgotten community.
*It’s the same in Lewisburg where Cra-Z-Art operates the Rose Moon factory and has since at least 2018. Lewisburg is a small but growing city. Mr. Ogles wants us to believe that the CEO of Cra-Z-Art is a fanboy of Mr. Trump, attributing their major Marshall County expansion to President Trump’s “art-of-the-deal” tariffs on Chinese goods. Fact Check: Cra-Z-Art’s CEO, Lawrence Rosen, did not attribute the expansion of the Marshall County (Lewisburg) plant to Donald Trump’s “Art of the Deal.” What Rosen actually stated is, “Based on the current economic climate, we are taking decisive action to expand and invest in American manufacturing.”
His comments focused on the practical business response to tariffs and the benefits for local economies and consumers, without referencing Trump’s book or deal-making philosophy.
*Charms has been operating in Covington, Tennessee, since 1973. How does a company like Charms forget Covington and its workers for 52 years? It’s certainly not clear Mr. Trump’s tariffs saved the town from going under; granted, it is small, but Charms hasn’t forgotten Covington or its workers who need saving.
*Finally, the current Selmer, Tennessee facility, which ABB is now planning to replace with a larger and more advanced plant set to open in late 2026, has a history dating back to the 1960s under previous ownership. A forgotten community? Not since the 1960s.
Here is the real impact on Wilson County and Tennessee of the administration’s slash and fire campaign and recklessly playing with tariffs.
For Wilson County farmers, the tariffs reduce export opportunities and raise costs of essential supplies. Tennessee businesses imported around $21 billion worth of Chinese-made products in 2024. If tariffs persist, the import tax alone could total over $30 billion. The closure/downsizing of local federal SSA, VA, and IRS branches makes it harder for residents to access essential services, especially seniors and low-income families.
Wilson County’s story is a cautionary tale of how national policy decisions can ripple through local economies, disrupting lives and livelihoods. Prosperity depends on open markets, robust public investment and policies that put people – not politics – first.
Steve Caballero is the Chair of the Wilson County Democratic Party