What textiles teach us about globalism — and survival

I recently spoke at a conference in Washington hosted by the National Council of Textile Organizations. It was a bittersweet experience.

Sweet because during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Americans desperately needed masks, gowns, and every other form of personal protective equipment to stay alive, I turned to NCTO in my White House role and asked it to help meet our suddenly massive PPE needs. And NCTO ran to the sound of the guns. 

Across America, NCTO members ramped up production and stood up new factories in record time. I worked with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Defense to enforce “Buy American” rules and get contracts in place so we could move in Trump Time — as fast as possible without screwing it up.  

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SETS FIRST OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE IN ALASKA’S WILDLIFE REFUGE

By the time President Donald Trump left office in