Republican tap-dances around his opposition to Trump tariffs
Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) struggled to admit to Fox News that he's worried about the impact President Donald Trump's tariffs will have on American farmers and ranchers. Dancing around the issue, Thune told reporters, "I'm hoping they're a means to an end and not the end itself. I think they're hopefully temporary -- designed to achieve a specific result."He added: "Nothing happens in a vacuum. There's always a reaction to actions that are taken."ALSO READ: 'I want more': Republicans push for bigger IRS cuts amid fears of tax season chaosThune then told Fox: "Tariffs are designed to achieve a certain outcome. And we'll see where it goes and what the president decides to do long-term."He said he hopes that it will make an impact on the fentanyl crisis.Trump has also promised a tariff on agricultural products starting on April 2. "But I obviously am somebody who views this with—with an eye toward ensuring that we're protecting our farmers and ranchers," said Thune, according to Chad Pergram. As the president of the Michigan Farmers Union told WNEM News on Monday, even if tariffs aren't yet impacting agruculture, the products they use to grow those products will be impacted by the March 4 tariffs.
Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) struggled to admit to Fox News that he's worried about the impact President Donald Trump's tariffs will have on American farmers and ranchers.
Dancing around the issue, Thune told reporters, "I'm hoping they're a means to an end and not the end itself. I think they're hopefully temporary -- designed to achieve a specific result."
He added: "Nothing happens in a vacuum. There's always a reaction to actions that are taken."
ALSO READ: 'I want more': Republicans push for bigger IRS cuts amid fears of tax season chaos
Thune then told Fox: "Tariffs are designed to achieve a certain outcome. And we'll see where it goes and what the president decides to do long-term."
He said he hopes that it will make an impact on the fentanyl crisis.
Trump has also promised a tariff on agricultural products starting on April 2.
"But I obviously am somebody who views this with—with an eye toward ensuring that we're protecting our farmers and ranchers," said Thune, according to Chad Pergram.
As the president of the Michigan Farmers Union told WNEM News on Monday, even if tariffs aren't yet impacting agruculture, the products they use to grow those products will be impacted by the March 4 tariffs.
