Dear Minnesotans,
The economic struggles of our hardworking middle class and working poor are not an accident—they are the result of deliberate choices by a disconnected elite. As Batya Ungar-Sargon passionately argued on Piers Morgan Uncensored on April 2, 2025, Wall Street, globalists, and the elite are furious with President Trump because he has dared to stand up for the forgotten Americans—the very people Minnesota’s leaders claim to represent but consistently fail to support. Ungar-Sargon pointed out that Trump’s tariffs are a direct challenge to the elite’s grip on power, stating, “The rich are punishing Trump for siding with the neglected and humiliated American working class over them!” She highlighted that since Trump took office, $1.2 trillion in manufacturing investments have poured into the U.S., proving these policies can work to bring jobs back [Ref post: 1907567288951205910].
Let’s be clear: the elite—those who control the press and push globalist agendas—benefit from keeping you in a cycle of economic struggle. They want you to ignore the truth you feel in your heart: that you deserve better. For decades, they’ve hollowed out our industries, leaving towns across Minnesota and the Rust Belt boarded up and forgotten. As Kari Lake, another panelist on the show, emphasized, Trump’s tariffs are a “bold move” to rebuild American manufacturing for both economic and national security reasons—a stance I fully support as your candidate for Governor in 2026 [Ref reply: 1907581637149204882].
But why does this matter to Minnesota specifically? Look at the actions of leaders like Tim Walz, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, and Keith Ellison. They claim to champion the working class, yet their policies often align with the interests of their wealthy donors and handlers. For example, critics like Steve Carlson have accused Walz and Ellison of misallocating resources—diverting funds meant for breast cancer treatment to the abortion industry following the Dobbs decision, a move that prioritizes political agendas over Minnesotans’ health [Ref web ID: 1]. This is not about serving “we the people”—it’s about power, control, and personal gain. The MNDFL’s rhetoric is a smokescreen to maintain their influence while our communities struggle.
Trump’s tariffs, though controversial, aim to level the playing field. They target countries that have exploited us with unfair trade practices—like Vietnam, which charges the U.S. 90% tariffs while we charge them far less [Ref transcription: 27m 46s]. Trump’s plan offers a simple fix: if they charge us 50%, we charge them 50%. If they charge us zero, we charge them zero. Better yet, he’s incentivizing companies to bring manufacturing back to America by lowering corporate taxes from 21% to 15%—but only if they produce here, creating jobs for Americans [Ref transcription: 38m 2s]. This isn’t a handout to the rich; it’s a strategy to rebuild our middle class, which has been decimated as manufacturing dropped from 25% of our economy in the 1970s to just 10% today, while the top 10% now control over 60% of GDP [Ref transcription: 24m].
Critics will point to potential downsides, and I hear those concerns. The Tax Foundation estimates Trump’s tariffs could reduce U.S. GDP by 0.2%, cut 142,000 jobs, and cost households $1,300 on average in 2025 [Ref web ID: 2]. Some on X have even referenced the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which deepened the Great Depression by slashing international trade by 65% [Ref web ID: 3; Ref reply: 1907571341957513491]. These are valid points, but history isn’t destiny. Trump’s first-term tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum in 2017 raised prices briefly, but within four months, they stabilized, and inflation remained low at 1.8% in 2018 [Ref transcription: 36m 18s]. Ungar-Sargon also noted that a recent American Compass survey found 77% of GOP voters—many of whom earn under $100,000—are willing to pay higher prices if it means bringing manufacturing jobs back [Ref transcription: 22m 55s]. Minnesotans, I believe you’re ready to make that trade-off for a stronger future.
As your next Governor, I’m committed to rebuilding Minnesota on strong foundations—cutting wasteful bureaucracies, slashing burdensome regulations, and fighting for policies that put our workers first, just as Trump is doing nationally [Ref web ID: 2]. We don’t have to accept the status quo of exploitation and lies. We can demand fairness, rebuild our industries, and restore the American Dream for every Minnesotan.
The choice is simple: side with the elite who profit from your struggle, or fight for a government that truly serves you. I’m ready to lead that fight.
Respectfully,
Phillip C Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
###