Gentry Beach on Trump Accounts, Economic Growth, and America’s Financial Future

Michigan’s Big Show

December 4, 2025

Overview

What if every American child began life with a real stake in the nation’s economic success? On Michigan’s Big Show, America First Global Chairman and CEO Gentry Beach joined host Michael Patrick Shields to discuss a bold proposal backed by President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz: investment accounts for newborns designed to harness the power of compound growth from day one. In a wide-ranging conversation, Beach explained why this approach represents a “hand up, not a handout,” how it aligns everyday Americans with U.S. economic growth, and why business—at home and abroad—remains the strongest bridge to peace and prosperity. The discussion offered a clear vision of an America-first economic strategy built on opportunity, ownership, and long-term strength.

Transcript

Michael Patrick Shields: You’re listening to Michael Patrick Shields on radio stations across the state of Michigan and worldwide at MIBigShow.com.

Michael Patrick Shields (continued): It’s MPS with you. And elected officials and politicians who come through this program often repeat that old line from the Clinton era: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

That remains the number one issue for voters.

Just yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Donald Trump were talking about giving newborn children a “Trump Account.” The idea would seed each account with $1,000 at birth, invested from day one—kind of like Social Security from the start. Here’s what that sounded like.

Ted Cruz (clip): Starting on July Fourth, every child in America will have a personal investment account opened for them. Newborn children will have it seeded with one thousand dollars.

Parents, family, and employers can contribute up to five thousand dollars a year in a tax-advantaged account. That money will be invested in the S&P 500—a broad-based equity index.

Two massive benefits change this country. Number one: every child in America experiences compound growth.

Take a little girl born next year. She starts with one thousand dollars. Her family contributes five thousand dollars a year. Assuming a historic seven percent growth rate, by age eighteen she’ll have about one hundred seventy thousand dollars.

By age thirty-five, she’ll have around seven hundred thousand dollars. That’s game-changing—not for the children of billionaires, but for the kids of a single mom waiting tables.

Michael Patrick Shields: Gentry Beach is the Chairman and CEO of America First Global and played a leading role in President Donald Trump’s campaign, serving as National Finance Co-Chair among other roles.

Mr. Beach, just on the surface, what do you make of that idea?

Gentry Beach: I think it’s a great idea. I really do.

We’re finally getting to an environment where common sense is taking hold. Woke no longer controls the agenda, and I think we’re on a very strong path.

Can you imagine what that could do for people who otherwise couldn’t afford education or opportunity? I think it’s an incredible idea and one I fully support.

Michael Patrick Shields: It’s quite the head start—and a practical approach.

In the past, people talked about tying Social Security to the stock market or creating personal retirement accounts. This just starts at birth instead of retirement. Does that make sense? Some people find it scary.

Gentry Beach: I see this as a hand up, not a handout.

The strategy aligns people’s outcomes with American growth and American opportunity. That makes a lot of sense to me.

You mentioned Senator Cruz—he’s from my home state of Texas. He’s controversial at times, but on this issue he has a great idea, and it’s something we can absolutely get behind.

Michael Patrick Shields: As I understand it, you were a college friend of Donald Trump Jr.

We’ve heard the phrase “peace through strength,” but recently it’s been reframed as “peace through business” when it comes to the U.S. and Russia. What do you make of that?

Gentry Beach: That’s definitely true. I did go to college with Don. We’re social friends—we don’t do business together.

But that framing is exactly what’s happening. Business is the bridge to peace, and we’re seeing it on a very large scale.

Russia is very shortly not going to be viewed as a bad actor or a bad name anymore. We grew up watching movies like Red Dawn, but the truth is we have far more in common with the Russian people than many groups we deal with globally.

Gentry Beach (continued): There are real opportunities to use Russian technology to benefit America.

For example, modular LNG technology—developed by Russia, but built largely with U.S. components from companies like GE and Baker Hughes—can unlock stranded gas reserves in northern Alaska.

Just three LNG trains could increase Alaska’s GDP by more than thirty percent. One project raising an entire state’s GDP by over thirty percent is unheard of.

That’s how you build bridges, create value for America, create jobs, and do very smart things.

Michael Patrick Shields: Why hasn’t that happened before? Why decades of Cold War thinking?

Gentry Beach: The mindset is shifting.

Both the U.S. and Russia were stuck in Cold War mentalities. But the new generation wasn’t part of that. They’re more open. The world is more connected and global.

I believe you’ll see the Ukrainian-Russian conflict come to an end, and when it does, you’ll see American companies winning on both sides.

Michael Patrick Shields: I hope you’re right, and I appreciate the time.

Gentry Beach, Chairman and CEO of America First Global.