The Mar-a-Lago Accord

To investors,

I remember sitting in economics class during college wondering what it would have been like to live through Bretton Woods or the Plaza Accord. Both events had significant impacts on national currencies, asset prices and the macro environment.

But we should be careful what we wish for.

Jim Bianco has recently popularized the idea of a “Mar-a-Lago Accord” that is already being put into motion. He says you should take this idea (and President Trump) seriously, but not literally. We may not see photos from a big meeting at Mar-a-Lago, but we are virtually watching the economic machine evolve into something different.

First, you have to accept that the US dollar is overvalued. This is creating problems for the United States and many trading partners around the world. Jim points out that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said on Dec 4, 2024 - “the U.S. federal budget is on an unsustainable path. The debt is not at an unsustainable level, but the path is unsustainable, and we know that we have to change that.”

Jim’s response was “we can no longer do nothing. That will result in disaster. Something has to change. And that is not trying harder to raise taxes and cut spending. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. New approach is needed (Mar-a-Lago Accord).”

This is where things get interesting. What is the new approach? According to Jim, we are watching this new economic system roll out in front of our eyes. This approach includes the following:

This is not a potential idea — Jim Bianco says the plan is already in motion.

“Step one has already been done ... Tariffs. They have two objectives, leverage (Mexico 10k troops on the border) and revenues. But to drone on and on about tariffs is to lose sight of the entire forest in this tree.”

“Step two is being done, the US Sovereign Wealth Fund. How does this get funded? Treasury Secretary Bessent ... sovereign-wealth fund would allow the government ‘to monetize the U.S. balance sheet for the American people. We’re going to put the assets to work.’”

“Step three - reduce the debt via payment for the security arrangement.

Trump Jan 23rd to the WEF - ‘I’m also going to ask all NATO nations to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, which is what it should have been years ago. It was only at 2%, and most nations didn’t pay until I came along. I insisted that they pay, and they did, because the United States was really paying the difference at that time, and it was unfair to the United States. But many, many things have been unfair for many years to the United States.’”

Many people I know are not taking any of these developments seriously. They thought the tariffs were merely a negotiating point. They currently think the sovereign wealth fund is a random announcement that will never get implemented. And the thought of the US demanding payment for security of other nations makes them want to scream in rage.

But every investor has a choice to make — you can ignore what is happening or you can adapt your perspective as new information is presented. The goal of these various programs according to Bianco is to “reduce the debt burden, lower the dollar and bring down interest rates.”

Majority of investors agree those three outcomes would be good things. The controversy and debate comes from disagreement on whether the Mar-a-Lago Accord can actually accomplish these desired results.

Here is my biggest takeaway though — whether you believe the desired outcomes can be achieved or not, you have to accept the fact that the new administration is going to use these programs and tools to attempt it. Tariffs are being implemented. The sovereign wealth fund is real and will be created. Europe is going to pay a higher price for the security agreement as well.

Those are facts that can’t be ignored.

Market participants are going to wager trillions of dollars on the outcome of this new “Accord.” The good news is that American citizens will be better off if the plan succeeds. The important question is whether asset prices will benefit or not.

Interest rates coming down should be a tailwind. Debt reduction could be a short-term headwind. And a weaker dollar should drive asset prices higher. Those three statements mean the situation is complex, but I am in the camp that we would see a net positive for asset prices.

Ultimately, assets like bitcoin or tech stocks will go the way of global liquidity. The Mar-a-Lago Accords idea is fun to think about, but everything you need to know will be told by the liquidity charts.

Hope you all have a great start to your week. I’ll talk to everyone tomorrow.

- Anthony Pompliano

Founder & CEO, Professional Capital Management

Will Bitcoin Generate Yield?

Anthony Pompliano joins Squawk Box to talk bitcoin, regulation, current macro environment, memecoins, and where bitcoin could be headed next.

Enjoy!

Podcast Sponsors

* Reed Smith - Smart legal solutions for complex disputes, transactions, and regulations. Learn more at www.reedsmith.com

* Ledger - Ledger secures 20% of the world’s digital assets. Their latest devices, Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex, feature secure touchscreens for safer, easier crypto management.

* Franzy - Ready to leave the 9-to-5, start a side hustle, or expand your portfolio? Franzy is your gateway to franchise ownership—research, compare, and fund the right opportunity with confidence and transparency.

* Bitwise - America’s largest crypto index fund manager and the only Bitcoin ETF issuer that publishes its wallet address plus donates 10% of profits to open source developers. Learn more at BitwisePomp.com

* BitcoinIRA - Buy, sell, and swap 75+ cryptocurrencies in your retirement account. Pay less taxes. Earn up to $1,000 in rewards.

* Bitdeer - A global technology company focused on Bitcoin mining, ASIC development and HPC for AI, backed by advanced R&D and a massive 2.5 GW global power portfolio.

* Meanwhile - The world’s first licensed and regulated life insurance company built for the Bitcoin economy. Learn how to tax-optimize your BTC holdings for your life and beyond.

* BitcoinOS - The operating system for bitcoin applications powered by zero-knowledge technology. Check out @BTC_OS on twitter to learn more.

* Gemini - The future is being built today. Go Where Dollar’s Won’t. With Gemini.

* Xapo - Xapo Bank is the only way to bank with Bitcoin.

* Polkadot is a scalable, secure, and decentralized blockchain technology aimed at creating Web3. Innovation leader, making it a preferred choice for big names.

You are receiving The Pomp Letter because you either signed up or you attended one of the events that I spoke at. Feel free to unsubscribe if you aren't finding this valuable. Nothing in this email is intended to serve as financial advice. Do your own research.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pomp.substack.com/subscribe