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'Decimated for 60 years': GOP senator warns tariff backlash has dearly cost Republicans

ALSO READ: This abject media cowardice only makes violent GOP rhetoric worse

'Decimated for 60 years': GOP senator warns tariff backlash has dearly cost Republicans
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

A Republican senator all but begged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to back off his key economic policy — widespread tariffs.

President Donald Trump enacted new tariffs Wednesday, announcing at a Rose Garden speech a baseline 10 percent tariff on all imports from every country, effective Saturday. Trump also announced reciprocal tariffs targeting specific countries, such as 34% on China and 20% on the European Union, which will go into effect on April 9.

The measures are part of what Trump called "Liberation Day," which has has said will combat trade imbalances and protect U.S. industries.

ALSO READ: 'Not much I can do': GOP senator gives up fight against Trump's tariffs

A previously announced 25% tariff on foreign-made vehicles will take effect Thursday.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called the tariffs a "terrible idea" — and warned Republicans have a fraught history with them.

"Tariffs with Canada threaten us with recession," he said. "I mean, it's a terrible, terrible idea. And I think we're going to win the vote today; over half the Senate is going to vote against these tariffs."

When a reporter asked Paul his thoughts on Trump's remarks that any Republican who opposes tariffs looks weak and is siding with the Democrats, Paul said he believes it's the "opposite."

"I think it shows strength of character. That we are for something that is so much more to important economic, really orthodoxy, that tariffs are bad for the country. But it's not only that they're bad economically; historically, tariffs have decimated the Republican Party that supported them."

That includes the GOP in 1890, which supported tariffs and lost nearly half their seats, from 171 to just 88. The same happened in 1930, when the Republicans lost 52 seats in the House and eight in the Senate, largely due to voter dissatisfaction with their handling of the Great Depression.

"They were decimated for 60 years. The Republicans did not control the House or the Senate for 60 years after the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. So I would argue that tariffs, particularly at least for recession, are devastating politically," he said.


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'The time to act is now': MAGA influencer calls on GOP to 'ban' threats after Kirk slaying

MAGA influencer Laura Loomer called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to "ban" certain "threats in our country" in a social media post on Sunday.

Loomer said Johnson should work with Republican lawmakers to designate Antifa and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations and ban the trans pride flag. She also called on President Donald Trump to sign an executive order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa as terrorist organizations.

Her calls to action come just days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a talk at Utah Valley University. Reports indicate the alleged shooter lived with a transgender individual who is cooperating with investigators.

"Please take action," Loomer posted on X. "We can’t just talk about the threats in our country on Fox News anymore. We need action."

"It’s time for us to actually use our power instead of just talking about it," Loomer added. "Republicans aren’t guaranteed another majority in one year. The time to act is now."

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'He becomes enraged': Trump insiders spill about Stephen Miller 'making them cry at work'

A top White House adviser is responsible for making multiple officials cry at work, according to new reporting.

Rolling Stone over the weekend dropped an in-depth piece on White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller. As part of that reporting, the outlet noted that "paranoid" Trump officials were "whispering" nicknames for Miller behind his back.

Additionally, the outlet reported that Trump himself insults his "awkward" policy hawk.

Rolling Stone goes even further in the piece by describing how Miller is to worth with, and for.

"His berating of intra-departmental and agency officials has become the stuff of legend, if not waking nightmares," the report states. "Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, two sources who’ve worked in the federal government and have personally dealt with Miller tell Rolling Stone that his berating has made them each cry at work."

The Rolling Stone report goes on to describe specifics.

"During intra-agency discussions, Miller has routinely name-called, yelled, threatened officials’ jobs or future in the party, and attempted to humiliate people in front of their colleagues. He becomes enraged if he feels the immigrant-arrest numbers aren’t padded enough, or if he believes Trump’s domestic agenda is being stalled, even slightly," the report states. "He is known for working long hours and micromanaging the brutal policies coming out of the new administration."

It adds, "He has a longstanding reputation, dating back to 2017, in the Republican upper ranks as someone willing to say anything, do anything, and betray almost anyone, in the service of Trump and, more vitally, keeping his power and proximity to the president intact."

Read the full report here (subscription required).

Trump says he doesn't want to 'frighten off' foreign companies after raid on Hyundai

President Donald Trump tried to do damage control after the Department of Homeland Security raided a Hyundai plant in Georgia and detained hundreds of workers with legal visas.

"When Foreign Companies who are building extremely complex products, machines, and various other 'things,' come into the United States with massive Investments, I want them to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products, as they phase out of our Country, and back into their land," Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.

"If we didn't do this, all of that massive Investment will never come in the first place — Chips, Semiconductors, Computers, Ships, Trains, and so many other products that we have to learn from others how to make, or, in many cases, relearn, because we used to be great at it, but not anymore," the president acknowledged.

"I don't want to frighten off or disincentivize Investment into America by outside Countries or Companies."

Despite placing the South Korean employees in shackles, Trump insisted on Sunday that "we welcome" foreign workers.

"We are willing to proudly say we will learn from them, and do even better than them at their own 'game,' sometime into the not too distant future!" he remarked.

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