Republican Senators Sound Alarm on Trump’s Tariff Risks

Republican senators are voicing growing unease over President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy, effective Wednesday, warning of its potential to harm manufacturers, farmers, and U.S. households. At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, lawmakers like Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., grilled U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the economic fallout, with Tillis demanding accountability if the strategy triggers a downturn. The criticism, aimed at Trump’s team rather than the president himself, reflects rare GOP dissent amid a shaky stock market and recession fears.

While cautiously praising Trump’s goal of tackling trade imbalances, senators highlighted real-world impacts. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., cited an Oklahoma firm stalled by new tariffs on Vietnam after shifting from China, pressing Greer for a negotiation timeline only to hear that outcomes trump deadlines. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., welcomed signs of talks but worried about consumer costs, noting, “Who pays these high tariffs? It will be the consumer.” Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., backed Trump, accepting short-term pain for long-term gain.

Efforts to rein in Trump’s tariff powers face resistance. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, proposed a bill for congressional oversight, but the White House vowed a veto, and leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., showed no interest in advancing it. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., called the idea impractical, while Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., lamented the administration’s unclear messaging, leaving lawmakers scrambling to address constituents’ concerns as economic uncertainty looms