U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff policies have sparked concern among his own allies and supporters. On April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause for countries affected by heightened U.S. tariffs. This unexpected shift occurred just hours after new levies against roughly 60 U.S. trading partners went into effect.
Trump authorized a universal “lowered reciprocal tariff of 10 percent” as negotiations continue, citing that people were “yippy and afraid” due to declining stock markets. The market downturn has unsettled key supporters on Wall Street, tech billionaires like Elon Musk, congressional Republicans, and even die-hard fans of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Republican Lawmakers Express Concern
Several Republican members of Congress have voiced their opposition to Trump’s tariff approach. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated in a Fox News interview that tariffs essentially function as a tax on consumers. “I do not support significantly raising taxes on American consumers,” Cruz asserted.
On his podcast, Cruz mentioned that while using tariffs as leverage to encourage other countries to lower theirs could be beneficial, a long-term implementation might lead to inflation, hinder job growth, and potentially cause a recession in the U.S. economy.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky also criticized the tariffs in a recent Senate speech, challenging the justification of imposing them under the pretext of a “national emergency” caused by trade deficits.
Bipartisan Efforts to Curb Tariffs
In early April, four Republican senators joined Democrats in an attempt to block Trump’s tariffs against Canada. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins supported a resolution that passed 51 to 48, aiming to end tariffs on Canadian imports.
Additionally, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell introduced a bill requiring Congress to approve new tariffs within 60 days of their implementation, or else they would be automatically revoked. This bill has garnered support from seven Republican senators. The White House, however, has strongly opposed the legislation, indicating that Trump would veto it if passed.
Supporters Voice Dissatisfaction
Trump’s tariff policies have also drawn criticism from his supporter base. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro remarked on his podcast that the notion of tariffs benefiting Americans is “really problematic” and untrue. “The idea that it is going to result in massive re-shoring of manufacturing is also untrue,” Shapiro added.
Joe Rogan, a prominent blogger who supported Trump in the 2024 elections, labeled the trade dispute with Canada as “stupid.” Former Vice President Mike Pence expressed in a recent interview that the administration’s aggressive use of tariffs “poses a potential risk” for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
Cruz further warned that his fellow Republicans could face a “bloodbath” in the upcoming elections if the tariffs lead to an economic recession.
