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Republicans Defend Tariffs as Polls Sour and Costs Mount

A Dispatch analysis warns the tariff burden has become a political liability for the party.

Overview

  • House Republicans interviewed by The Dispatch largely backed President Trump’s tariff agenda, with figures like Reps. Eli Crane and Harriet Hageman praising the policy or blaming negative coverage.
  • Tariff revenue has risen to about $30 billion per month from roughly $6 billion per month in 2024, amounting to an estimated $300 billion a year paid by U.S. consumers and businesses.
  • Polling cited by The Dispatch shows weak economic marks for the president, including 36 percent approval on handling the economy, a 14-point drop in economic satisfaction, and 73 percent saying tariffs raised their prices.
  • Trump told House Republicans he does not understand why public opinion has turned against his presidency even as affordability concerns persist.
  • Dispatch editor John McCormack labels tariffs the GOP’s biggest self-inflicted wound, as some senators push alternate remedies or message discipline and a pending Supreme Court case could curb tariff authority.