Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) brought up road salt again Thursday night, and the internet was ready for her.
At her second debate with Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, which aired on C-SPAN, Collins was asked whether she could use the appropriations process to push back on President Donald Trump’s tariffs. She said the Appropriations Committee “does not have jurisdiction over tariffs.” She added that she has been working with the administration to get some of them lifted.
“I’ve already had some success on pulp, on road salt,” Collins said. “I know Troy makes fun of road salt, but the fact is, if you ask towns in...”
Jackson wasn’t buying it, so he brought up all the other tariffs that still exist and are still putting pressure on Maine residents.
“How much money is that going to cost the town of Presque Isle, the town of Frenchville? All people that work in the farming and fish and forestry industry,” Jackson said. “She didn’t answer your question... She has the purse. She could have used it against Donald Trump.”
“Nobody has been more outspoken against the Canadian tariffs than I,” Collins replied.
The exchange revived an attack that has dogged her since September. That month, road salt and cement were exempted from Trump’s Canadian tariffs and Collins took credit. Jackson’s response was “Thank you for the road salt,” the Washington Examiner reported.
Online, the reaction came fast.
“Susan Collins managed to walk right into another Road Salt moment,” wrote Acyn Torabi, whose clip of the exchange has more than 237,000 views.
“This is so bad for her,” wrote progressive influencer Lucas Sanders.
“Oops she did it again,” posted MeidasTouch.
“So tariffs are costing us money,” another user wrote.
Dem strategist Maine summed it up: “LET THEM EAT ROAD SALT AND PULP TOO, PEASANT!”