Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) was not amongst the few Republican lawmakers who rebuked President Donald Trump over his emergency tariffs on Canada earlier this yr, however nonetheless he delivered a warning over the weekend concerning the probably devastating penalties of the president’s tariff policies.
The GOP senator sat down with CNN’s Manu Raju for a wide-ranging dialogue Sunday concerning the present state of the Republican Party, and when requested about which of Trump’s many controversial actions has induced him probably the most concern, Curtis spoke plainly.
“If we’re not cautious, we’ll destroy small companies with tariffs,” he told the “Inside Politics Sunday” host. “And I perceive, you need to play the lengthy recreation with President Trump and tariffs, and I’m not one to step in and out-guess his negotiating fashion or method.”
“However I do assume we’ve got to be very, very cautious with our small companies, notably in terms of these tariffs,” continued Curtis, who had simply completed giving a speech on the Senate ground concerning the want for better transparency in authorities.
Trump introduced a sweeping 10% baseline tariff final month on virtually all imports to the U.S., with levies on China set even higher. Whereas the president argues this might revive American manufacturing, economists have warned of a potential recession, or worse.
Elected final yr to fill former Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) seat, Curtis has had combined reactions to Trump.
Whereas he didn’t again the “Make America Nice Once more” chief within the Republican primaries and has slammed Trump for encouraging “an act of terrorism” within the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Curtis voted towards each of Trump’s impeachments whereas serving within the U.S. Home — and provided him some reward on Sunday.
“It’s outstanding what’s occurred on the border,” he informed Raju. “We noticed an unbelievable inflation report a pair days in the past. We’re seeing some stability internationally that I credit score President Trump with. And so, there’s clearly two sides to this.”
Curtis was additionally important of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, nevertheless, which has focused 1000’s of federal staff and companies with the said intention of chopping wasteful spending, beneath the path of billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk.
Musk spent a fortune to assist reelect Trump and, as a “particular authorities worker” tapped to root out federal waste, fraud and monetary abuse, wielded a symbolic chainsaw onstage earlier this yr. He additionally requested authorities workers to justify their jobs via email.
Curtis is in favor of tackling the U.S. debt and deficit, however informed Raju on Sunday this “doesn’t imply we shouldn’t have compassion” whereas shedding federal staff, or perceive that “maybe that’s the worst day of their life.”
“I do assume we have to make cuts, and I feel DOGE has opened their eyes to some doorways which might be very problematic, however having run a enterprise, having been mayor, I do know this goes over lots higher if in case you have a dose of compassion,” the average conservative argued.
