Republicans fear Trump's trade war could lead to political wipeout
Source: The Hill
04/13/25 6:00 AM
Republican lawmakers say theres a good chance that President Trumps trade war will boomerang on Republicans politically in 2026, as rising prices and shrinking growth could offset other accomplishments by the GOP.
Republican senators are pointing to the 1932 and 1982 elections as historical examples of when trade wars and resulting price inflation hurt their party at the ballot box, and they are worried that history could repeat itself.
Many Republican lawmakers view tariffs as a tax hike on American consumers, and some note that the last two times Congress enacted tax hikes on the scale of Trumps recent tariffs, the presidents party suffered a wipeout in the next election.
In the national elections, you can go back to 1982 when I think it was about 26 congressional seats that were lost [by Republicans], said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who will be a top Democratic target in next years midterm election. In 1982, then-President Reagans first midterm election, the House GOP lost 26 seats amid high interest rates and voters sour view of the economy. The Senate GOP lost one seat in that cycle.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5245595-trump-trade-war-political-dangers/

eppur_se_muova
(38,829 posts)OnDoutside
(20,784 posts)eppur_se_muova
(38,829 posts)underpants
(189,920 posts)drmeow
(5,528 posts)NCDem47
(2,739 posts)Hugin
(36,028 posts)
bucolic_frolic
(49,730 posts)with vehemence and certitude. I doubt they have it in them.
Bernardo de La Paz
(54,585 posts)What's odd about that?
It's odd that no names are mentioned. Who are these Republicans saying such things? Certainly not a single one with a backbone.
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Firestorm49
(4,336 posts)Weve seen what hes done in 60 days. Theyre moving fast and I assure you that they will not want to alter their plans of remaining in power. Its not quite gloves off for us as of yet, but at this point, as optimistic as I would like to be, we havent fully realized the full scope of their agenda. I fear that for them, the best is yet to come.
CrispyQ
(39,445 posts)He should lead the senate dems, not Schumer. We need to fill all leadership positions with new guard attitude dems, not old guard attitude dems.
I read 35,000 people turned out for Bernie & AOC in LA, & there's not even an election coming up! Their message resonates. The dems should run with it, but instead when I'm on FB, all I get from the DNC is "We're fighting for you. Can you please send money?" I know they're doing more than I see but if I don't see it, I doubt others do either.
On edit: Just now on FB, from Democrats:
Democrats
Sponsored · Paid for by DNC SERVICES CORP./DEM. NAT'L COMMITTEE ·
Heres what the War Room Operation will help Democrats do:
COMPETE IN CONSERVATIVE MEDIA: The DNC will compete in conservative media spaces, going where important conversations are happening and not just where its comfortable.
HOST TOWN HALLS: The DNC will keep hosting town halls in red districts to engage the voters that House Republicans are ignoring, which has been an enormous success.
ENGAGE INFLUENCERS: The DNC is building out a robust influencer engagement operation that taps into trusted voices across the country and across the social media ecosystem.
DAILY RAPID RESPONSE: The DNC will play a central coordinating role in driving a central message of the day across the Democratic ecosystem.
COMBAT MISINFORMATION: The DNC is launching a Peoples Cabinet to tap into a deep bench of experts and community voices to directly counter Trumps lies.
PUT REPUBLICANS ON THE DEFENSE: The DNC will scale its best-in-class research operation to expose Trump, Musk, Vance, and Republicans up and down the ballot.
If this sounds like a smart plan to you, then help us scale our program by donating today!
Bernardo de La Paz
(54,585 posts)Hoover elected 1928.
Presided over market crash in 1929.
Signed Smoot-Hawley tariff tax June 1930.
Then November 1930 happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930_United_States_elections
Senate: +8 Dem (35 contested, only 96 seats then)
House: +52 Dem
Governors: +7 Dem (33 contested)
Then November 1932 happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1932_United_States_elections
President: FDR: 472 EV, Hoover 59. Popular vote margin: Dem +17.8%
Senate: +12 (compared to 1930)
House: +97 (compared to 1930)
Governors: +11 (compared to 1930, 35 contested)
Democrats need a 21st century FDR. RepubliConners have their Hoover (tRump for midterms, Vance for 2028).
CountAllVotes
(21,671 posts)When the MAGA freaks are buying GLD at $3200+ a pop you know the game is over. Done as in GONE.
& recommend.
Orrex
(64,991 posts)Ol Janx Spirit
(108 posts)...the economy. Maybe some of the wholesale destruction of governmental departments voters have come to depend on will resonate, but the illegal deportations; the cruel efforts in the name of eliminating DEI; the outright cruelty against LGBTQ+ and POC; the incredible amount of grifting committed by the Administration; innumerable immoral acts, and the outright stupidity of destroying the U.S.'s reputation on the world stage are all things that a large swath of the swing or low-propensity voters that determine the outcome of our elections seemingly care nothing about as long as their paycheck buys the number of eggs they feel is appropriate.
WestMichRad
(2,224 posts)Im hoping for that outcome. Let them keep digging the hole.
Grins
(8,216 posts)It happened in the election following Nixons resignation in disgrace. Voters took it out on the entire Republican Party.
Needs to happen again.
The one BIG obstacle? Fox News.
Baitball Blogger
(49,744 posts)big Buffoon into the Oval Office. So, yes, the only way out of this hole is to prove to the world that in the next election, we can recognize our mistakes. It's the only way for America to redeem itself.
bsiebs
(818 posts).... we are a toxic country that cannot be trusted.
drmeow
(5,528 posts)Well, then, maybe you shouldn't be repeating the history that might cause that, you fascist f**ks.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,044 posts)EarthFirst
(3,613 posts)
they know that what they are doing runs counter to public opinion at best; and at worst illegal and unconstitutional.
It will be quite interesting to see who ends up surprised when the subpoenas start arriving
travelingthrulife
(2,027 posts)republianmushroom
(19,439 posts)Besides ruining this country, and dismantling our govt. alienating our allies.
Balatro
(7 posts)Trump just essentially said "let's give it a whirl!" and talks up McKinley. Imperialism was peaking around that time and the US was opening up markets to combat "glut thesis" about goods we needed to see. It was a much different time. Trump says 'tariffs' were the reason the US was rich, but it was actually increased trade (coupled with pretty extensive Gilded Age corruption). He also acts like the income tax was made from thin air. It was a pretty populist thing and was supported by the Populist Party at the time. Any student of history has to view the things he says about those times as absurd. But here we are, saddled with a president who wants to cosplay McKinley.
Justice matters.
(8,280 posts)That is another lie.
Only a portion of the 1% was rich. The rest of the US citizenry had dire living condition (except private farmers who could make a minimum living without going hungry): Long working hours with little pay, no overtime, no safety net.
The felon is lying again. Nothing new: It's all he does and he's making a killing, thanks to complicit medias. He's making the US becoming like Russia. Empty shelves soon et al.
ProudMNDemocrat
(19,591 posts)Most ALL of them support these tariffs in the first place.
yourout
(8,376 posts)BumRushDaShow
(150,613 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(11,107 posts)Mz Pip
(28,053 posts)They control the House and the Senate. They can do something other than whine.