William McKinley won the presidential elections with over 7 million votes out of nearly 14 million cast. It was under his administration in 1898 that the United States declared war on Spain and gained control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, as well as the independence of Cuba. Additionally, McKinley defended the doctrine of 'manifest destiny,' a concept that Trump has revisited in the context of declining U.S. influence globally.
President McKinley led the U.S. to victory in the Spanish-American War and promoted significant economic growth by protecting the manufacturing industry with tariffs. He is also remembered for his commitment to American greatness. He won the election to the House of Representatives in 1876 and was governor of Ohio before his presidency.
As president, McKinley implemented laws to protect workers and addressed issues such as child labor. The Republicans nominated him for the presidency in 1896, focusing on the protectionist tariff and the gold standard in his campaign.
President Trump praised McKinley for his use of tariffs and his colonialist track record, something that Trump admires. According to the U.S. government, William McKinley was the 25th president of the country, born in 1843 in Ohio. He studied law and served in the Civil War. During his inaugural speech, Trump praised McKinley for his business acumen and for enriching the country through tariffs.
