Republicans Downplay Concerns Over Rising Costs from Trump’s Tariffs
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Senator Eric Schmitt Brush Aside Worries About Price Hikes on Consumer Goods
WASHINGTON — Republican officials continue to defend President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on countries like China, Canada, and Mexico, despite concerns over the potential impact on American consumers.
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke in favor of the tariffs, claiming they would make foreign nations “feel the consequences” and allow the U.S. to move forward under Trump’s leadership. She justified the tariffs by pointing to what she described as a lack of cooperation from Canada, Mexico, and China in curbing the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
During an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Noem acknowledged that the amount of fentanyl intercepted at the northern border was far less than at the southern border. However, she emphasized that the Trump administration’s efforts would involve allocating additional resources to the northern border to push Canada to “come to the table” on border security.
“We’re not just going to enforce our southern border,” Noem explained. “We’re going to put extra resources at that northern border as well.”
Similarly, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., supported the tariffs, arguing that they were a tactic to get Canada and Mexico to address the issue of fentanyl trafficking. In his own Meet the Press appearance, Schmitt stated, “Mexico has a choice. They can choose to trade with the United States or continue to cozy up with the cartels.”
While both Noem and Schmitt defended the tariffs, they downplayed concerns that American consumers would face higher prices. In a post on Truth Social, Trump himself acknowledged that some "pain" might be felt by the public due to the tariffs but remained optimistic that the long-term benefits would outweigh the short-term costs. "This will be the golden age of America!" Trump wrote, adding, “Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!). But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid.”
Noem echoed this sentiment in her interview, suggesting that any price increases would be the result of reactions from other nations to the U.S. tariffs. Schmitt dismissed concerns of rising prices, citing the economic success of tariffs during Trump’s first term. He pointed out that the previous round of tariffs didn’t lead to inflation but rather contributed to wage growth and the reshoring of jobs.
“It worked the first time when he was in office — we didn’t see inflation, we saw wage growth, and we saw more onshoring of jobs back here in the United States,” Schmitt argued.
However, Democratic leaders, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., criticized the move, asserting that tying immigration policy to tariffs would hurt American families. Kelly, speaking on Meet the Press, stated that the tariffs would drive up costs for consumers, particularly in areas like food, energy, electronics, and automobiles.
“Raising tariffs on Canada and Mexico is going to do one thing: It’s going to raise prices for American consumers,” Kelly said, adding that the approach would harm families who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
As debates over the tariffs continue, the tension between economic strategies and their impact on everyday Americans remains a point of contention.