Relief sweeps Capitol Hill after Trump's tariff U-turn
While Trump left a lower, 10 percent global tariff in place and escalated his confrontation with China — upping those duties to 125 percent — Republicans were otherwise pleased with the apparent retreat a week after Trump's Rose Garden announcement threw the financial and political worlds into a frenzy.
"I think jubilation is too strong a word, but ... it was positive," said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who described fellow senators checking in on the balances of their retirement account as stocks surged. "I think everybody can sort of identify with that going up."
They were less pleased about how they learned the news. That would be from a Truth Social post — not from the two high-level administration officials, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender, who were addressing separate groups of lawmakers on the Hill on Wednesday as the news broke. They showed no indication they knew the announcement was coming.
Inside a Republican Study Committee lunch, Faulkender pushed House members to back the GOP budget plan set for a House vote Wednesday when news broke of the tariff pause. Members wanted to know more about the administration's end game, but he did not have answers, attendees said — nor did Greer, who was in front of the House Ways and Means Committee for his second straight day of congressional testimony.
Greer, who spent Tuesday and Wednesday morning defending the tariff rollout and insisting the president shouldn't let the stock market drive his economic decisions, told the committee that he knew a pause on the tariffs was under discussion when he entered the hearing in the morning but that he only learned of the pause in real time.
'I understand it's 90 days, I haven't spoken to the president since I've been in this hearing,' Greer said.
Lawmakers also appeared to have little insight into what, exactly, changed Trump's mind. Several lawmakers pointed to Trump, himself, saying he was ultimately responsible for setting the policy. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he's been seeking information from the administration on who, ultimately, is helping to shape Trump's plan.
For weeks, Republican senators have fretted about the tariffs, but few have offered any real pushback to the administration, instead holding out hope that Trump would eventually ramp down the pressure. Those lawmakers embraced Trump's announcement Wednesday afternoon.
'As he promised, he's going to use these tariffs to leverage good, strong trade agreements, just like he got finished before in Trump 45,' said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). 'So I'm excited.'
But while Trump hit pause on the highest tariff rates since the 1930s, import duties still remain far higher than when he took office. Along with the 10 percent global tariff and 125 percent tariff on China, Trump has maintained 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum and automobiles — and has promised future tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Tillis said Trump's move Wednesday was "smart because it eliminates some of the downside speculation right now." But, he added, "it doesn't eliminate any of the uncertainty unless you start seeing a deal float pretty quickly over the next couple of days with some of the major trading partners.'
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the most vocal opponents of tariffs in the Senate, was more blunt: '10 percent tariffs are bad, but they're better than 60 percent.'
Two tariff-skeptical South Dakota Republicans did their best to present the U-turn as part of a coherent Trump administration policy that has otherwise escaped most observers. Rep. Dusty Johnson said he was "not opposed at all to using tariffs as a negotiating tool — seems like that's what the White House is doing."
Added Senate Majority Leader John Thune: "I think they are checking it out and seeing what works and if they are kind of getting the response that they hope to get. I think it's a work in progress but it sounds like they are getting some good results."
"Behold the 'Art of the Deal,'" Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X.
Privately, though, others in GOP saw little method to the madness. 'What a shitshow," said a conservative House Republican granted anonymity to react candidly to the pause, "and after [Greer] just testified how we need the tariffs?'
Samuel Benson contributed to this report.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misidentified a senator commenting on Trump's tariff shift. It was Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
20 minutes ago
- Axios
Ex-New Mexico state candidate gets 80 years for shootings at Dems' homes
Solomon Peña, an unsuccessful New Mexico state House candidate, was sentenced to 80 years in prison Wednesday "for orchestrating a politically motivated shooting spree and plotting to murder witnesses to obstruct justice," the Justice Department announced. The big picture: A federal jury in March found the 42-year-old guilty of of all charges related to the drive-by shootings targeting the homes and offices of elected state state Democratic officials in N.M. in December 2022 and January 2023. Peña, who ran for the House District 14 seat in the 2022 midterms, was convicted of 13 charges. These included conspiracy, firearms charges, four counts of intimidation and interference with federally protected activities, per a Department of Justice statement Wednesday. Driving the news: "After his electoral defeat, Peña falsely claimed the election was rigged and began pressuring members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify the results," per the statement. He recruited accomplices Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out the shootings after the commissioners refused his demands, the DOJ said. "One of the shootings involved a fully automatic machine gun. Multiple rounds struck areas of the homes where children had recently been or were sleeping," the statement noted. "Following his arrest, Peña attempted to have Jose and Demetrio Trujillo murdered to prevent them from testifying, offering fellow inmates money and a vehicle in exchange for their deaths." Zoom in: Jose Trujillo previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities and other charges including firearms offenses and was sentenced to 37 months in prison, according to the DOJ. Demetrio Trujillo pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to 180 months in prison. For the record: The court in Albuquerque ordered Peña to pay restitution and a $250,000 fine. "Upon his release from prison, Peña will be subject to three years of supervised release," the DOJ said.
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Republican Says He Doesn't 'Buckle Up' in D.C. Amid Fear of Carjacking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said he does not "buckle up" when driving in the nation's capital for fears of carjackings and his hindered response time if caught in one. Newsweek reached out to a political analyst via text message Wednesday for additional comment. Why It Matters President Donald Trump's move to federalize Washington, D.C., represents one of the most aggressive uses of federal authority over local law enforcement in recent memory and raised questions on the balance between local control and federal emergency powers in the district. Trump cited the District of Columbia's Home Rule Act in the enabling of federal control for a limited period. In a news conference addressing the administration's decision, district Mayor Muriel Bowser said in part that she believes Trump's view of D.C. was shaped during his first term in office, during and post-COVID, noting the spike in crime during the period. What To Know While speaking with Fox News on D.C. crime, Mullin said that "If you look at car theft only ... if Washington, D.C., was a state, Washington, D.C., would be three times higher than any other state. And we're talking about a city. And we're comparing it to full states." "And by the way, I'm not joking when I say this. I drive around in Washington, D.C., in my jeep and, yes, I do drive myself," the Oklahoma lawmaker continued. "And I don't buckle up. And the reason why I don't buckle up, and people can say whatever they want to, they can raise their eyebrows at me, again, is because of carjacking." Mullin added: "I don't wanna be stuck in my vehicle when I need to exit in a hurry because I got a seat belt around me. And ... I wear my seat belt all the time, but in Washington, D.C., I do not because it is so prevalent of carjacking. ... And I don't want the same thing to happen to me what's happened to a lot of people that work on The Hill." Trump also discussed D.C.'s crime record in comparison to other states Wednesday night on Truth Social, saying in part, "If D.C. were a State, it would have the highest Homicide Rate of any State in America. The Violent Crime Rate in D.C. has worsened, and the Murder Rate has essentially DOUBLED in just over a decade — But these are only the 'official' statistics released by corrupt City Officials." A Newsweek analysis of local and federal data reported violent crime in 2024 had hit a 30-year low in the district, and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department had also reported 2025 decreases in violent crime, including a 37 percent decline in carjackings. Recent incidents, however, did prompt national attention, including the D.C. attack on Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, former employee at the Department of Government Efficiency. What People Are Saying Bowser posted to X on Monday: "Washington, DC is a beautiful city. DC is home to 700K people and welcomes millions every year. We have the #1 park system, fantastic public schools, and a tremendous public transportation system. And we are at a 30-year low in violent crime. It's important for all who live here and visit to know how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that we've accomplished." Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma prepares for a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 29. (Photo by) Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma prepares for a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 29. (Photo by) This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
CNN
21 minutes ago
- CNN
Failed New Mexico candidate gets 80 years for convictions in shootings at officials' homes
A failed political candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison Wednesday for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque in the aftermath of the 2020 election. A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Peña earlier this year of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker. Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Peña has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life. Peña's lawyers had sought a five-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Peña was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency. 'Today was a necessary step toward Mr. Peña's continued fight to prove his innocence,' said Nicholas Hart, one of Peña's attorneys. 'He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.' The attacks took place as threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials surged across the country after President Donald Trump and his allies called into question the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors said Peña resorted to violence in the belief that a 'rigged' election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state Legislature. The shootings targeted the homes of officials including two county commissioners after their certification of the 2022 election, in which Peña lost by nearly 50 percentage points. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator's 10-year-old daughter. Two other men who had acknowledged helping Peña with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received yearslong prison sentences.
