'Democrats have an opening': Trump tariffs could have critics 'flipping the script' on GOP

Donald Trump's trade war gives Democrats the perfect opening to go after his economic policies if they have the stomach to pounce, argues a new article from Politico.

Democratic leadership has been criticized for failing to construct a clear message on the upcoming spending bill vote, and they've been equally ambivalent on criticizing Trump's sweeping tariffs that have fomented fears of recession.

"Democrats from states like Michigan and Pennsylvania are trying to thread the needle by condemning Trump’s erratic policy pronouncements and attacks on allies like Canada, while not criticizing tariffs or protectionist policies," wrote reporter Daniel Desrochers.

Lawmakers like Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) told Politico that tariffs can be a good thing if they're used properly.

"It's indiscriminate tariffs that are not based on anything — that’s the problem," Peters said. "I’ve supported tariffs. I supported Joe Biden’s 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles from China."

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Trump's huge tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, China, and the European Union have sparked retaliatory tariffs that sent the stock markets spiraling downward.

"The S&P 500 has lost $4 trillion value in the past month," the article said, which has had disastrous effects on the average American's 401(k) retirement plans.

"A new CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday morning found that 56 percent of adults now disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, to only 44 percent who approve, a reversal from his first term," according to the article.

"Democrats have seized on those indicators to attack Trump and blame him for stubbornly high prices, flipping the script from the 2024 election, when Biden and Democrats were weighed down by inflation concerns," Desrochers wrote. But they continue to try to craft a cohesive message on Trump's trade policy.

Desrochers cited Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) as a prime example.

"Asked in an interview Tuesday on MSNBC, if Trump’s pledge that tariffs could bring back manufacturing jobs was a 'false promise,' Sen. Jon Fetterman (D-Pa.) replied, 'No,'" Desrochers wrote. "But then he proceeded to criticize Trump for focusing on North American neighbors Canada and Mexico, rather than the country’s real 'enemies.'"

Read the Politico article here.