Why is Trump doing everything possible to tank the economy?
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 1:56 pm
Despite his promises to build a strong economy for Americans on the campaign trail, Donald Trump has done anything but since re-entering the Oval Office.
At some point, Republicans are going to fear the consequences from their own voters more than they fear Trump’s wrath. A Trump-endorsed primary challenger is only a threat if you’re going to be able to win that seat in the general election anyways.
An economy that continues to plummet in the way that it has been will be a death sentence for swing district Republicans in the next election cycle.
Republicans in swing districts who actually want to remain in office should be scrambling to stop the protectionist policies of the Trump administration. As the economy suffers, and more voters sour on tariffs as they harm their bottom line, the GOP is going to wish they cut Trump’s terrible economic policy off from the beginning.
The best time to stop this was before it began, the second best time is now. Congress should revoke the president's ability to set tariff policy, and restore economic sanity to the United States’ trade policy.
This month alone, the markets have seen major drops as Trump's economic policy takes hold. He actively made matters worse this week when he wouldn't rule out a recession. Not everyone has stocks, a little under two-thirds of American adults, but everyone suffers from the higher prices that tariffs bring.
In the face of a crumbling economy, Trump first doubled down and raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, then apparently changed his mind. This erratic behavior isn't leadership and is only making things worse. Trump is learning nothing from the past several weeks, and is too stubborn to listen to every economic indicator telling him it is a bad idea.
If Trump won’t listen to Wall Street, the voters and economists, maybe Republicans in Congress will. Congressional Republicans should halt his ability to set tariff policies, helping the American economy and their ability to win in upcoming elections.
Congress could put a stop to this anti-economic insanity at any point. Trump is utilizing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to invoke these tariffs, meaning that Congress can rein in Trump’s authority to set tariff policy by repealing the act.
Tariffs are Congress' responsibility, the same way any other tax policy is. However, through the IEEPA, the president can do so in an emergency. The trick is the president has the power to create “national emergencies,” which is why you see Trump declaring national emergencies on “electricity” and justifying other tariffs through the border crisis.
The GOP is unlikely to mount such an effort. Still, Republicans like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul who are publicly outspoken against tariffs should consider introducing legislation that removes the tariff powers.
Opinion: Why do I criticize Trump so much if I'm conservative? I expect better from GOP.
If Paul and other Republicans care about their voters, they should put their money where their mouth is and do what they can to hinder Trump’s authority in order to help turn things around before it's too late.
Democrats would be politically wise to introduce similar legislation, even if it is unlikely to pass. Put every Republican on record supporting the president’s tariff policies, or force them to publicly split with the head of their party.
When will Congress put Americans over Trump?
The only thing forcing the continuation of these tariffs is Trump’s stubbornness and a congressional lack of spine. Congressional Republicans know that these policies are hurting their constituents, but they simply don’t care. Trump’s economic illiteracy is going to drag the Republican Party down, and Republicans are refusing to unshackle themselves from it so far.
If the current trajectory continues, the GOP will not stand a chance in the elections of 2026 or 2028. While Trump may not care about this fact, given that he is ineligible to run for a third term, Republican legislators should.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/ ... 2621&ei=12
At some point, Republicans are going to fear the consequences from their own voters more than they fear Trump’s wrath. A Trump-endorsed primary challenger is only a threat if you’re going to be able to win that seat in the general election anyways.
An economy that continues to plummet in the way that it has been will be a death sentence for swing district Republicans in the next election cycle.
Republicans in swing districts who actually want to remain in office should be scrambling to stop the protectionist policies of the Trump administration. As the economy suffers, and more voters sour on tariffs as they harm their bottom line, the GOP is going to wish they cut Trump’s terrible economic policy off from the beginning.
The best time to stop this was before it began, the second best time is now. Congress should revoke the president's ability to set tariff policy, and restore economic sanity to the United States’ trade policy.
This month alone, the markets have seen major drops as Trump's economic policy takes hold. He actively made matters worse this week when he wouldn't rule out a recession. Not everyone has stocks, a little under two-thirds of American adults, but everyone suffers from the higher prices that tariffs bring.
In the face of a crumbling economy, Trump first doubled down and raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, then apparently changed his mind. This erratic behavior isn't leadership and is only making things worse. Trump is learning nothing from the past several weeks, and is too stubborn to listen to every economic indicator telling him it is a bad idea.
If Trump won’t listen to Wall Street, the voters and economists, maybe Republicans in Congress will. Congressional Republicans should halt his ability to set tariff policies, helping the American economy and their ability to win in upcoming elections.
Congress could put a stop to this anti-economic insanity at any point. Trump is utilizing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to invoke these tariffs, meaning that Congress can rein in Trump’s authority to set tariff policy by repealing the act.
Tariffs are Congress' responsibility, the same way any other tax policy is. However, through the IEEPA, the president can do so in an emergency. The trick is the president has the power to create “national emergencies,” which is why you see Trump declaring national emergencies on “electricity” and justifying other tariffs through the border crisis.
The GOP is unlikely to mount such an effort. Still, Republicans like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul who are publicly outspoken against tariffs should consider introducing legislation that removes the tariff powers.
Opinion: Why do I criticize Trump so much if I'm conservative? I expect better from GOP.
If Paul and other Republicans care about their voters, they should put their money where their mouth is and do what they can to hinder Trump’s authority in order to help turn things around before it's too late.
Democrats would be politically wise to introduce similar legislation, even if it is unlikely to pass. Put every Republican on record supporting the president’s tariff policies, or force them to publicly split with the head of their party.
When will Congress put Americans over Trump?
The only thing forcing the continuation of these tariffs is Trump’s stubbornness and a congressional lack of spine. Congressional Republicans know that these policies are hurting their constituents, but they simply don’t care. Trump’s economic illiteracy is going to drag the Republican Party down, and Republicans are refusing to unshackle themselves from it so far.
If the current trajectory continues, the GOP will not stand a chance in the elections of 2026 or 2028. While Trump may not care about this fact, given that he is ineligible to run for a third term, Republican legislators should.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/ ... 2621&ei=12
