'I share the markets' concern': MAGA senator turns on Trump over tariffs

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) spoke out against the heavy tariffs President Donald Trump placed on Canada, Mexico, and China this month in an interview on the right-wing Newsmax channel on Monday.

This comes as stock markets reacted to the tariffs with a massive sell-off.

"Tariffs are a tax," Johnson said on Newsmax. "When you tax something, you get less of it, so we'll probably get fewer imports, but then with retaliation, fewer exports. Smoot-Hawley was not particularly successful and helped spark the Depression, so I share the markets' concern."

Johnson, who managed a plastics company in a swing state near the Canadian border before being elected to the Senate, has long been part of the free trade wing of the Republican Party.

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On his Senate website, he makes his position on the matter clear: "Wisconsin grows and manufactures many things that consumers around the world want to buy. That demand helps fuel Wisconsin's state economy and create well-paid jobs. Those jobs, and future job growth, would be at risk if the U.S. withdraws from trade agreements and cedes foreign markets to global competitors. We live in a global economy. We do not have the luxury of deciding whether or not we wish to compete. We must compete — and Senator Johnson believes America can win that competition ... He will support free and fair trade deals that strengthen our economy and provide expanding opportunity."

Shortly after Johnson's interview, Trump announced that he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to a one-month "pause" on the Mexican tariffs specifically, as she commits a surge of troops to her side of the border with the United States; the Chinese and Canadian tariffs remain in effect as of press time.

Watch the video below or at the link here.