This article is reprinted from [CCTV News Client];

The trade war initiated by Trump has become an increasingly heavy political burden for the Republican Party. According to a report by The Hill, Republican lawmakers who privately oppose tariffs but dare not publicly criticize the president hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will step in and put an end to the tariff war.

△ Recently, The Hill published an article titled "Republicans Quietly Hope the Supreme Court Halts Trump's Trade War."

"The Trade War as a Political Burden for the Republicans"

The article quotes Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former assistant to the Senate Republican leadership, who bluntly stated, "Lawmakers don't dare publicly oppose the president because the cost is too high. So they are hoping the Supreme Court will intervene to uphold the power of the House of Representatives to levy taxes as granted by the Constitution."

He noted that polls show that tariff policies are unpopular, and if they continue for a long time, they could jeopardize the re-election prospects of these lawmakers.

A Republican who requested anonymity said that if the Supreme Court intervenes on the tariff war, it would be good news for "voiceless" Republicans. Many Republican members of Congress believe that Trump's tax policies are "too radical." If the economy falls into recession, these lawmakers will worry about their re-election campaigns being affected, and their political situation is already precarious.

Even Ted Cruz, a staunch ally of Trump and a federal senator from Texas, described tariffs as effectively taxing millions of American consumers, and he disagrees with this approach.

△ Ron Johnson, a Republican senator from Wisconsin, called tariffs a "blunt instrument that harms both sides" during a television interview.

Ron Johnson, a Republican senator from Wisconsin, questioned the real purpose of the trade war in a television interview and warned that tariffs are a "blunt instrument that harms both sides."

Tariffs Could Be the Republicans' "Midterm Election Waterloo"

Another anonymous Republican said that Trump's tariff war is very unpopular among Republican senators, and their concerns are widespread. For example, they worry that Trump's tariff policy will become permanent. They also said that the issue of tariffs is "tearing our party apart."

The chain reaction caused by tariff policies has begun to make Republicans worry about the midterm election in 2026.

In an interview, Tom Tillis, a Republican senator from North Carolina, mentioned 1982, when the Republicans lost 26 seats in the midterm elections due to economic issues.

In 1982, it was during the presidency of Republican Ronald Reagan, when the United States faced dual pressures of high interest rates and economic stagnation. To address this, the Reagan administration pushed Congress to pass tax reform legislation, raising corporate and consumption taxes to increase fiscal revenue.

Most Republicans, including Tillis, believe that Trump's tariff policies are effectively imposing additional taxes on American households. The larger the tax increase, the lower the Republican support rate. Tillis specifically pointed out that if the U.S. is still debating tariff issues next February, "all indicators will continue to deteriorate."

Ted Cruz also warned that tariffs could lead to the Republicans suffering a "bloodbath" in the 2026 midterm elections.

△ According to US media reports, seven Republican senators are pushing for legislation requiring that tariff policies must be approved by Congress, rather than becoming an exclusive presidential privilege as Trump wishes.

Heightened Rift Among Republicans Due to Tariff Disputes

The rift over tariffs continues to widen. Previously, according to US media reports, seven Republican senators are pushing for legislation requiring that tariff policies must be approved by Congress, rather than becoming an exclusive presidential privilege as Trump wishes.

Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, criticized Trump's tariff policies, calling them a "historic abdication of power by Congress."

Meanwhile, prominent Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and former Vice President Mike Pence, have publicly criticized tariff policies.

Rand Paul said that tariff policies are costing Americans and that Congress needs to reaffirm its constitutional authority to set tariffs and trade rules.

"Don't be 'PANICAN'!" Trump coined this blended word composed of "panic" and "Republican," explaining it as "a new political party made up of weak and foolish people," and posted it on social media. Analysis suggests that this clearly attacks Republican opponents within his own party.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7495301431931552310/

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