Trump's tariff misuse alarms 'staunch allies, die-hard fans'
The market crash has caused concern among Trump's loyal supporters, including Wall Street insiders, Silicon Valley billionaires such as Elon Musk, congressional Republicans, and even his most dedicated MAGA followers.
TroibNews 
On April 9, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day suspension for countries affected by increased U.S. tariffs.
In a significant shift in policy, just hours after tariffs against approximately 60 U.S. trading partners went into effect, Trump indicated he would authorize a universal "lowered reciprocal tariff of 10 percent" while negotiations were ongoing. He attributed the decision to ease tariffs to concerns that people were "yippy and afraid" due to stock market declines.
The market crash has created unease among Trump’s strong supporters, including Wall Street allies, Silicon Valley billionaires like Elon Musk, congressional Republicans, and loyal MAGA supporters.
Criticism from Republicans regarding Trump's tariff policy has been mounting. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz remarked in an interview with Fox News that tariffs effectively act as a tax on consumers, which he opposes. Cruz further stated on his podcast that if the government could leverage this policy to quickly prompt other countries to lower their tariffs, it would be beneficial. However, he cautioned that if sustained over the long term, tariffs could lead to increased inflation, hinder job growth, and possibly trigger a recession in the U.S. economy.
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul spoke against Trump in a recent Senate address, challenging the rationale behind tariffs justified by a "national emergency" linked to trade deficits.
In early April, four Republican senators joined Democrats in a bid to block Trump's tariffs on Canada. In a rare show of dissent towards Trump, Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins voted in favor of a resolution that passed 51 to 48, seeking to terminate tariffs on Canadian imports.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell have introduced legislation requiring congressional approval for new tariffs within 60 days of their implementation or else they would be automatically blocked. This proposal has garnered the backing of seven Republican senators.
However, the White House has expressed strong opposition to the bill, indicating that Trump would veto it.
At the same time, Trump's tariff strategy has faced pushback from his MAGA supporters. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro stated on his podcast that the notion that tariffs benefit Americans and promote wealth is "really problematic." He elaborated that the idea of tariffs leading to a significant re-shoring of manufacturing is also "untrue."
Prominent blogger Joe Rogan, who supported Trump in the 2024 elections, criticized the President’s dispute with Canada as "stupid."
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence recently warned in an interview with The Hill that the aggressive application of tariffs by the Trump administration "poses a potential risk" for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Cruz has also cautioned that his Republican colleagues might face a "bloodbath" in those elections if Trump's tariffs contribute to a recession.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
In a significant shift in policy, just hours after tariffs against approximately 60 U.S. trading partners went into effect, Trump indicated he would authorize a universal "lowered reciprocal tariff of 10 percent" while negotiations were ongoing. He attributed the decision to ease tariffs to concerns that people were "yippy and afraid" due to stock market declines.
The market crash has created unease among Trump’s strong supporters, including Wall Street allies, Silicon Valley billionaires like Elon Musk, congressional Republicans, and loyal MAGA supporters.
Criticism from Republicans regarding Trump's tariff policy has been mounting. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz remarked in an interview with Fox News that tariffs effectively act as a tax on consumers, which he opposes. Cruz further stated on his podcast that if the government could leverage this policy to quickly prompt other countries to lower their tariffs, it would be beneficial. However, he cautioned that if sustained over the long term, tariffs could lead to increased inflation, hinder job growth, and possibly trigger a recession in the U.S. economy.
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul spoke against Trump in a recent Senate address, challenging the rationale behind tariffs justified by a "national emergency" linked to trade deficits.
In early April, four Republican senators joined Democrats in a bid to block Trump's tariffs on Canada. In a rare show of dissent towards Trump, Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins voted in favor of a resolution that passed 51 to 48, seeking to terminate tariffs on Canadian imports.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell have introduced legislation requiring congressional approval for new tariffs within 60 days of their implementation or else they would be automatically blocked. This proposal has garnered the backing of seven Republican senators.
However, the White House has expressed strong opposition to the bill, indicating that Trump would veto it.
At the same time, Trump's tariff strategy has faced pushback from his MAGA supporters. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro stated on his podcast that the notion that tariffs benefit Americans and promote wealth is "really problematic." He elaborated that the idea of tariffs leading to a significant re-shoring of manufacturing is also "untrue."
Prominent blogger Joe Rogan, who supported Trump in the 2024 elections, criticized the President’s dispute with Canada as "stupid."
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence recently warned in an interview with The Hill that the aggressive application of tariffs by the Trump administration "poses a potential risk" for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Cruz has also cautioned that his Republican colleagues might face a "bloodbath" in those elections if Trump's tariffs contribute to a recession.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
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