A Seat at the Table

An Insider’s Look at Trump’s Bold Economic Strategy. “From the trade negotiations with China to implementing the CARES Act during the pandemic, Mitchell Silk played a critical role during some of the most challenging economic moments in recent history.” —Steven T. Mnuchin, 77th Secretary of the US Treasury When Donald J. Trump took office in 2021, the world braced for disruption. From trade wars to tariffs, from rewriting the rules on China to reimagining America’s role in global infrastructure finance, his administration launched one of the most dramatic shifts in US economic policy in decades. In A Seat at the Table, Mitchell A. Silk—former senior US Treasury official and the first Chassidic Jew confirmed by the Senate to such a role—offers a rare, behind-the-scenes account of how Trump’s economic revolution unfolded at home and abroad during his first term. Drawing on years of experience in finance, law, and diplomacy, Silk takes readers into high-stakes negotiations with China, the creation of groundbreaking infrastructure finance frameworks in Latin America and Asia, and the whirlwind crafting of the CARES Act that saved hundreds of thousands of American jobs. Inside this book, you’ll discover: - The Trump Doctrine on Economics: Why tariffs, deregulation, and executive orders were more than bluster—and how they reshaped America’s economic leverage. - Confronting China: Firsthand accounts of trade negotiations, intellectual property battles, and the 2020 Phase 1 Trade Agreement. - Fostering Global Growth and Countering the Belt and Road Initiative: How US-led alternatives like America Crecé and AsiaEDGE mobilized billions in private investment and offered a market-based challenge to Beijing. - Energy Independence and Innovation: Trump’s push to expand LNG exports, revitalize coal, and position America as the global leader in fintech and digital assets. - Crisis Response: The untold story of how Treasury and industry leaders partnered to save the US airline industry during COVID-19. - Faith and Diplomacy: How Silk’s heritage, values, personal touch, and even a timely Yiddish proverb shaped global negotiations. For readers of political history, economic strategy, and behind-the-scenes accounts of White House decision-making, A Seat at the Table is both a roadmap and a revelation.

Mitchell A. Silk is a former assistant secretary for International Markets at the US Department of the Treasury and the first Hassidic Jew confirmed by the Senate for a senior federal role. With over thirty years in law and finance, he has led significant trade agreements and infrastructure initiatives globally. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Maryland School of Law, Mitch is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and actively engages in pro bono work within the Jewish community. He currently serves as Group General Counsel of Waterton Global Resources and the Cedarfield Group.