President Trump recently brought our attention to an innovative initiative stemming from the Big Beautiful Bill passed last July: the establishment of Trump Accounts.
These accounts signify a national investment in our future, providing every newborn American with an initial $1,000 payment from the government.
This sum marks the beginning of what I believe could revolutionize financial literacy among our youth.
Beyond this initial contribution, Trump Accounts allow parents, extended family, and friends to gift the child up to $5,000 each year.
A child, at every birthday celebration, holiday, or significant achievement, can request contributions to their Trump Account, instead of a typical present.
As they reach the age where they can monitor their account’s growth online, their understanding of financial literacy will blossom, paving pathways to smarter, more informed spending.
Furthermore, many corporations have joined this initiative by committing to donate an additional $1,000 for every child born to their employees.
This collaborative approach not only enhances the initial investment but creates a culture of financial responsibility and long-term thinking.
The magic of compounding, where interest earns interest, means that a diligent child who maximizes their contributions could accumulate approximately $250,000 by age 18.
Not every child will be able to contribute the maximum amount yearly.
But the inclination to funnel any received money into their Trump Account, rather than squandering it, will help instill essential life lessons about spending versus saving.
This initiative has the potential to cultivate a generation of young Americans who are savvy about their finances.
They will begin to understand that if they treat their money lightly, by spending foolishly rather than investing in their Trump Account, they are only hurting their own long-term financial success.
As they get older, they will watch their Trump account grow. In their account, they will own fractions of shares of large publicly traded corporations.
So, when they hear that Apple’s sales of the newest iPhone generated billions of dollars of profit annually, they will see their share of Apple ownership increase in value, driving up their Trump account.
At age 18, the money may be withdrawn for specific reasons, like paying for education, stating a business or buying a house. This will, as many have noted, “jumpstart the American dream.”
More critically, the long-term implications of educating our children on capitalistic principles cannot be overstated. Surveys illustrate a disturbing trend where an increasing number of Americans express a preference for socialism over capitalism.
We witness politicians openly identifying as (Democratic) Socialists, often successfully securing public office.
For most Americans who value freedom, this is a trend that must be reversed a soon as possible. The bias toward a socialist approach starts in school when children are very young.
It continues through higher education. This Socialist bias is very divisive, creating wide differences of the perception of a capitalist and a worker.
With a mainstream media mostly leaning left, we find that during economic downturns, labor often positions blame on capitalists. The narrative becomes one of corporate greed fueling economic woes and positioning big businesses as villains rather than partners in progress.
Many Americans, especially those contributing to retirement accounts, recognize they are the owners of these corporations. They supply their labor, but they also contribute capital.
The introduction of Trump Accounts signifies a pivotal shift as children will learn that as they accumulate shares, they become owners of the entities they associate with.
This realization can bridge the gap between labor and capital. As they work and invest, they understand that their efforts contribute to both labor and corporate ownership, ultimately defining them as capitalists.
The brilliance of the Trump Accounts initiative lies in their potential to embolden American youth. As each child reaches adolescence, the reassurance of a growing account allows them to approach their future with less trepidation and more optimism.
Thanks to the efforts of President Trump in securing investment from private donors, this initiative places a minimal burden on taxpayers.
Wealthy donors see the value in funding these accounts over contributing to proposed wealth or millionaire taxes, which have become contentious in states where high achievers are already overtaxed.
Trump Accounts have the potential to revive and fortify the spirit of capitalism in America where dreams are not merely aspirations but achievable realities.
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Michael Busler is a public policy analyst and a professor of finance at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in finance and economics. He has written op-ed columns in major newspapers for more than 35 years.
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