What NC Republicans are getting wrong about Trump’s tariff plan | Opinion
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan — and the trade war it threatens — is an extraordinary gamble that’s not likely to pay off. Economists have already warned that the tariffs, which affect nearly all goods from all countries, will drive prices up and slow economic growth, making a recession more likely.
The response from North Carolina Republicans has, unsurprisingly, been disappointing. Some members of the state’s congressional delegation have been content to cheer Trump on from the sidelines despite the risk it poses to even their own supporters, particularly low-income and rural communities.
Rep. Tim Moore, who represents parts of western North Carolina, crowed that Trump is “leveling the playing field for American workers and bringing back MADE IN AMERICA!”
Rep. Addison McDowell celebrated the fact that “finally, we have a President who wants to put the American worker FIRST.”
Rep. Pat Harrigan called it “real leadership,” and Rep. Mark Harris said the tariffs send “an important message to the world.”
The rest have mostly remained silent. All in all, only one Republican from North Carolina has been willing to express even the slightest hesitation about Trump’s potentially disastrous plan. That’s U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who has made it clear he’s not completely on board with the idea, given how it could affect his constituents.
Trump has suggested there might be some short-term pain from tariffs before there’s any economic gain, saying that “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” That’s an understatement. And it didn’t resonate with Tillis, who rightly told CNN that “Anyone who says there may be a little bit of pain before we get things right needs to talk to my farmers who are one crop away from bankruptcy.”
Tillis has also signed on as a co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation that would require congressional approval for new tariffs. He is one of just seven Senate Republicans to co-sponsor the bill, which would terminate new tariffs within 60 days unless Congress approves them.
Tillis has been sure to point out that his support for the bill isn’t specifically about reducing Trump’s power, lest anyone think he might be taking a stand against Trump. He’s also said that he “doesn’t question the wisdom of the president flexing and making it clear that we want fair trade,” but rather emphasized the importance of doing so carefully. And he voted against a bill last week aimed at stopping new tariffs on Canada. But that’s still more than can be said for his colleagues, who have responded with submission and silence.
That’s especially frustrating given how deeply Trump’s tariffs may be felt across North Carolina. Moore and other Republicans in Congress are clinging to the notion that these tariffs will somehow be a boon for manufacturing and the manufacturing worker in North Carolina. But it’s not that simple. Companies would need years to ramp up onshore production capabilities, an investment of time and money that seems especially unlikely given that Trump and his team already seem to be negotiating with other countries to address trade deficits rather than sticking to a long-term, “made in America” approach.
The president’s tariffs, if they persist, also will hit people’s daily expenses and retirement savings hard. An analysis by experts at Yale University estimates that the tariffs could cost the average American household an extra $3,800 this year. And it will only hurt the same workers Republicans claim these tariffs will help — most of whom can’t afford to shoulder a hit to their budget and retirement.
What’s even more frustrating is that Republicans very likely know this. They’re not privy to some special information telling them this is going to bring about a new era of American prosperity. They’re reading the same headlines and economic forecasts as the rest of us. Many congressional Republicans have apparently privately acknowledged that Trump’s tariffs might not be the best idea.
Publicly, however, most of them are pretending like there isn’t any degree of risk to this plan. They’re not asking any questions. And to blindly accept a policy of this breadth and magnitude without even the slightest amount of scrutiny means they’re not doing their job. It’s a disservice to their constituents and to North Carolina.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 10:27 AM with the headline "What NC Republicans are getting wrong about Trump’s tariff plan | Opinion."
