Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voiced concerns on Thursday that President Trump’s escalating tariffs on key U.S. trading partners are negatively impacting businesses and consumers in his home state.
“Almost every industry in Kentucky has come to me and said, ‘It will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars,’ and so, I’m going to continue to argue against tariffs,” Paul said in an interview with CNN late Thursday.
His remarks align with those of Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who has urged the Trump administration to be cautious when implementing tariffs and reciprocal taxes. Tillis acknowledged that while the U.S. holds significant economic power, it does not have unlimited leverage in global trade negotiations. “When we start losing, you back off,” Tillis said in an interview highlighted by Mediaite, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach rather than doubling down on policies that may backfire.
Their concerns follow comments from Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who also expressed unease about the impact of tariffs on the economy. While he praised Trump’s overall economic policies, he warned that rising tariffs could lead to unintended consequences.
“I think President Trump, on economics and otherwise, is doing very well, but you remember the old saying: ‘The danger of rising high is that the air gets thin.’ I’m worried about the tariffs,” Kennedy said during an appearance on Fox Business with Larry Kudlow.
Kennedy added that the administration is treading “uncharted waters” with its aggressive trade policies. “I think if the tariffs do start to cause inflation, I think the president will back away from them,” he said.
As inflation continues to squeeze American households, some Republican lawmakers are signaling that Trump’s hardline trade stance could backfire, leading to higher prices for consumers and businesses. With rising costs for essential goods like housing, automobiles, and everyday products, pressure is mounting for the administration to reconsider its approach before economic conditions worsen.