Conservative Support for Tariffs is Growing
The American conservative movement has shifted significantly, now showing robust backing for tariffs.
This shift has been noted before. In the post-World War II era, the conservative movement and the Republican Party primarily championed free trade. But today, opposition to tariffs mainly comes from a handful of conservatives and Republicans.
A YouGov survey recently revealed that two-thirds of registered Republicans believe tariffs should remain high or be raised further. In detail, 28% advocate for an increase, while 38% are satisfied with the current level. Only 17% think tariffs should be decreased. Interestingly, 68% of Trump supporters feel similarly about maintaining or increasing tariffs, with 31% specifically wanting to see them raised.
Since Emancipation Day in early April, support for President Donald Trump’s tariffs has grown. Back then, 61% of Republicans and 66% of Trump supporters believed tariffs should either rise or stay the same, with 43% pushing for an increase. Conversely, 16% wanted them lowered.
Support for raising tariffs has risen significantly since the start of Trump’s presidency. In a poll from February, only 24% of Republicans favored an increase, while 30% wanted them to stay as they were. A quarter of Republicans, however, still wanted tariffs reduced. The sentiment among Trump supporters mirrored this: 24% favored increasing tariffs, 34% wanted to keep them, and 23% sought reductions.
These findings suggest that throughout the year, not only has support for Trump’s tariffs strengthened, but there’s also been a noticeable decrease in the desire for tariff cuts among Republicans and Trump supporters. Many seem to believe that Trump largely made the right call in implementing these tariffs, and opposition to them appears to be dwindling.
Tariffs as a Conservative Stance
The YouGov survey posed questions about tariffs from a different angle, asking Americans if they viewed supporting tariff increases as a conservative position. An impressive 60% agreed, while 7% identified it as liberal, 17% as neutral, and 15% were uncertain. What’s particularly intriguing is that an even larger percentage of self-identified conservatives—69%—believe that backing higher tariffs is a conservative viewpoint. Moreover, 71% of Trump voters share this belief.
This seems to be one of those rare points where conservatives and liberals find common ground. Among liberals, 68% also perceive support for tariff hikes as a conservative stance, with nearly the same percentage among Harris voters as Trump voters.
Interestingly, a significant portion of Republicans also identifies as conservative regarding tariff support—59%. In comparison, 57% of moderates and 56% of registered independents see higher tariffs aligning with conservative ideology.
All of this indicates that supporting tariffs is no longer just a departure from traditional conservative values thanks to Trump; instead, it’s become a central tenet of conservatism itself. Now, backing tariffs is considered a core principle of the Republican Party.
This shift marks a return to longstanding principles that had been somewhat overshadowed. As previously noted, historically, from Presidents like Abraham Lincoln to William McKinley and Calvin Coolidge, the Republican Party advocated for protectionist tariffs. These tariffs not only shielded American workers but also funded the federal government and fostered industrial growth. Between 1860 and 1930, Republicans won 13 out of 15 presidential elections, with the only Democratic successes occurring during times of a fragmented Republican Party. This era saw the U.S. evolve from an agricultural economy to a leading manufacturing power, thanks in part to tariffs supporting American progress.
Reflecting on Lincoln’s words from 1844, he asserted, “Give us a protective tariff, and we will have the greatest nation on earth.” For nearly a hundred years, Republicans and conservatives were in agreement on this notion. Now, it appears the party and movement are united once more, convinced that tariffs can play a vital role in making America great again.
