Trump Tariffs Live Updates: Democrats criticize Trump’s tariffs, but not necessarily tariffs
As Democrats respond to the policies of the second Trump administration, they are finding it difficult to present a clear position on tariffs. Many are navigating carefully due to the fast-changing nature of President Donald Trump’s trade decisions.
Most Democrats have called Trump’s shifting trade actions “chaotic” and “reckless,” but there is no strong agreement within the party on whether to support tariffs as a general policy.
This lack of unity was evident on Sunday, when Democratic lawmakers were questioned on news programs about whether opposing Trump’s tariffs while supporting tariffs in principle was a consistent position.
Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., when asked by NBC’s Kristen Welker, criticized Trump’s trade strategy but did not comment directly on whether his party’s broader response was appropriate. Welker noted that former President Joe Biden had kept and even extended some of Trump’s earlier tariffs, which had received support from some progressive Democrats.
“I just want to, for myself, tell you a full-throated, unequivocal condemnation of the Trump tariffs,” Booker said, arguing that the trade measures had disrupted the economy and hurt Americans’ savings. “It is all just wrong. It should be condemned.”