On Monday, Senate Republicans expressed growing unease following President Trump’s weekend comments indicating that some tariffs might be permanent. He also suggested that the U.S. could manage a short-term recession.
For weeks, GOP members have felt the pressure as instability sparked by the Trump administration’s policies raised concerns over how the economy is being handled.
Republican lawmakers are taking note of the implications of Trump’s comments on tariffs. The possibility of these taxes being prolonged, along with his remarks about a recession, has created unease among consumers.
“There’s certainly a lot of anxiety,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.), who holds a leadership position in the GOP. “They keep saying they are close to getting things under control, so some clear progress would be beneficial.”
Capito highlighted the positive employment data released last week, which followed news of a 0.3% annual contraction in the economy during the first quarter. Still, she recognized that even a brief economic downturn could have lasting repercussions, despite achieving long-term economic goals.
“There’s definitely anxiety… He’s been entrusted with the economy as a dealmaker, and he has high expectations for himself,” she remarked. “He met those expectations in his initial term, and he believes he can do it again.”
“But Americans—let’s be honest—don’t have much tolerance for pain,” Capito added.
Within the first 100 days of his presidency, Trump imposed heavy tariffs on both allies and adversaries, though many were temporarily lifted in search of trade agreements. Nevertheless, some substantial tariffs remain, notably the 145% tariff on Chinese imports.
This has contributed to economic uncertainty, complicating planning for both businesses and consumers.
Trump’s remarks emerged during a lengthy interview on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
“Why are they built in the U.S. when someone thought they were going to leave the table?” he questioned.
Trump also indicated that he considers a short-term recession an acceptable trade-off for achieving his economic goals.
“Look, yes, it’s all fine,” Trump stated regarding potential recession. “This is a transitional phase. I believe we’ll come out on top.”
While Trump indicated he wasn’t overly concerned about the possibility of a recession, he acknowledged that it could happen.
“No,” he said when asked about worries. “Things can happen, but I believe we have the most substantial economy in our nation’s history.”
Despite GOP dismissals of recession fears recently, tariffs have become a pressing concern, particularly for members representing agriculture-heavy states.
While they commend Trump for his efforts to strike deals, there’s a strong reluctance to see tariffs last longer than necessary—especially on a permanent basis.
“I’m not keen on permanent tariffs unless I can strike an equitable trade agreement,” Sen. Mike Rounds (Rs.D.) stated.
“Tariffs have their role, but their purpose is to foster free and fair trade,” he explained. “We’re not keen on the costs that consumers bear for overseas products when they don’t have alternatives.”
Last week, top trade and economic advisors indicated they are actively negotiating with various countries to mitigate the extensive tariffs imposed by Trump recently, with Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) characterizing the number of countries involved as about 40.
Senate Republicans called on U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week to establish individual trade agreements instead of lifting tariffs over the summer due to consumer pressures, hoping to see developments in the coming weeks.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke at the Milken Institute Conference on Monday, emphasizing the importance of promoting long-term investments in the American economy.
“They are the interconnected components driving long-term investment in America,” Bessent shared with investors. “The outcome of the President’s economic plan will ultimately lead to more jobs, homes, growth, factories, and significant manufacturing opportunities.”
Bessent also conveyed to CNBC that trade talks with China could see “significant progress in the upcoming weeks.”
“I understand,” he concluded.
