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
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