GOP Lawmaker Credits Trump's Business Prowess for Major Investment in State: 'Knows How to Make Deals'

The announcement by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to invest another $100 billion in the United States is making waves, with Arizona taking center stage. While the news is a win for the state, the broader debate about the semiconductor industry and its future in the U.S. continues to heat up, especially after former President Donald Trump's address earlier this week.

Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., has been vocal in attributing the investment to Trump’s influence. The congressman, whose district hosts the TSMC facility, highlighted Trump's knack for deal-making. "He knows how to make deals and having foreign companies come in the United States. That's the best of all worlds because they're abandoning the policies over there to come to the United States to benefit from our lower regulation, our less taxes," Hamadeh said in an interview.

Hamadeh also emphasized the local impact of the investment, noting efforts to ensure TSMC prioritizes hiring Americans and veterans. His office recently met with the company to discuss these goals.

But the announcement comes at a time of political friction. Trump called for an end to the CHIPS and Science Act during his recent address, labeling it a "horrible, horrible thing." The act, passed in 2022 with bipartisan support, provides financial incentives to bolster the semiconductor supply chain. Critics, including Trump, argue that the act hands out billions without delivering meaningful results.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., pushed back, defending the legislation's role in attracting TSMC to Arizona. "The CHIPS Act is what helped get TSMC to the US and Arizona. And it brought their $100 billion announcement that came earlier this week—at the White House," Kelly posted on social media, warning that repealing the act would harm the industry's growth and undo years of bipartisan work.

Interestingly, TSMC's move to the U.S. was already in motion during Trump’s first term, long before the CHIPS Act was signed into law under President Joe Biden. Preliminary agreements for financial incentives were indeed part of the process, but Trump-era policies, including tariffs on Mexico and Canada, played a significant role, according to Hamadeh. "I think tariffs are excellent because you're already seeing the results so quickly. These companies understand they could hire Americans, they could manufacture in America," he stated.

The semiconductor industry’s reliance on Taiwan raises national security concerns, especially given rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Semiconductors are critical for everyday technology, from smartphones to computers, making America's efforts to strengthen domestic production all the more urgent.