The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board on Monday delivered another rebuke of Donald Trump, this time criticizing the president’s return to what it described as “playing the role of Tariff Man.”
In a sharply worded op-ed, the newspaper praised the passage of Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” (which has been widely condemned by political opponents) but then accused the president of immediately souring the mood with his announced 25% tariffs on imports from Japan and South Korea, both key U.S. allies.
The board warned how the move could backfire and harm the American economy. “What a way to treat two close American allies and fellow democracies in China’s backyard,” it wrote, cautioning of a potential “broad” economic fallout “given the volume of trade” between them.
“Looking through the trade data, it’s easy to see how Mr. Trump’s tariffs will hurt American businesses and consumers,” the editorial said, foreseeing trade between the nations possibly grinding “to a halt,” ultimately to the detriment of the U.S.
“Having less competition in the market for washing machines, say, isn’t to the American homeowner’s benefit,” it said, as one example. “Businesses in the U.S. that rely on highly specialized industrial machines might not have easy alternatives to Japanese and South Korean imports. Meantime, the trade ructions and uncertainty make it harder to plan and invest.”
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