Republican governor squirms when pressed about impact of Trump's policies on his state
People walk through a shopping mall at The Venetian Las Vegas resort, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 18, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
May 26, 2026
Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo avoided answering a direct question about President Donald Trump's tariff policies and their impact on the tourism-reliant state during a recent interview.
Lombardo spoke to 2 News Nevada in an exclusive interview last week and appeared visibly uncomfortable with denouncing Trump's tariffs, which have led to a tourism crisis in the state that heavily depends on travelers, especially in cities like Las Vegas. The loss of global tourism has hit the state's economy and become a serious concern among Nevada lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections this fall, according to Politico.
But Lombardo apparently did not have a strong stance on the topic, 2 News Nevada reported.
"I don't know all the nuances of foreign policy associated with that and the tariffs and how it directly affects Nevada, but me as the governor of the state of Nevada, I'm concerned about Nevada," Lombardo said.
In February, Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine said that Trump's tariffs have cost the state $2.1 billion and Conine has demanded that the administration pay the state for costs incurred as a result of the president's policy, KOLO 8 News Now reported.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo punts on whether he supports Trump's tariffs: "I don't know all the nuances of foreign policy associated with that and tariffs and how it directly affects, uh, Nevada." pic.twitter.com/FoNDtJUd6D
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 26, 2026