Republicans disagree with Trump tariff policy
Trump faces Republican revolt over tariffs and budget plan.
Growing rifts between President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers are surfacing as economic concerns mount over the administration’s aggressive tariff strategy and proposed federal budget.
At a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, GOP senators grilled U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over the wide-ranging impact of new tariffs on consumers, supply chains, and global trade relations, reports Cryptopolitan.
Later that evening, tensions escalated during a private White House meeting as Trump attempted to rally skeptical Republicans behind his economic agenda.
Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and James Lankford of Oklahoma voiced alarm over the potential fallout for manufacturing and supply chain shifts that continue to face penalties under Trump’s expanded tariff plan. “Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?” Tillis asked pointedly. Other lawmakers, including Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, warned that the tariffs risk stoking inflation and triggering retaliatory measures on U.S. agricultural exports.
While some Republicans remain aligned with Trump’s long-term goal of strengthening domestic industry, the lack of a clear timeline and economic safeguards has amplified calls for congressional checks on the president’s trade authority. Senator Chuck Grassley is leading a bipartisan push to require congressional approval of new tariffs—a proposal Trump has vowed to veto.
Budget Proposal Deepens Party Divisions
Simultaneously, Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson are contending with internal GOP resistance to their Senate-approved budget plan, which faces a shrinking legislative window before Congress adjourns. During a Republican fundraiser Tuesday night, Trump urged lawmakers to “close your eyes and get there,” referring to the bill’s passage. But key conservatives are holding firm.
Hardline members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Representatives Chip Roy and Andy Harris, have expressed doubts about the credibility of the budget’s promises, demanding steeper spending cuts. “Why am I voting on a budget based on promises that I don’t believe are going to materialize?” Roy asked.
Despite Trump’s high-stakes push, GOP unity remains elusive. As economic uncertainty grows, the coming weeks will test whether Trump can maintain control over his party—or whether ideological and fiscal fractures will widen.
Recently we wrote, that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly and privately distanced himself from President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with China, voicing concerns that the administration’s protectionist policies could backfire on American businesses, including his own.
