Speaker Paul Ryan’s spokesperson has released a statement from Ryan begging Trump not to start a trade war because it could jeopardize the gains made by the new tax cuts:
Speaker Ryan spokesperson on Trump's tariff plan:
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 5, 2018
“We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan. The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains.”
This is the second statement Ryan has made trying to convince Trump to stand down on this. Last week his spokesperson said this:
Speaker Ryan pushes back on steep tariffs. "The speaker is hoping the president will consider the unintended consequences of this idea and look at other approaches before moving forward," says spokes Doug Andres
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) March 1, 2018
Gov. Scott Walker was also pleading with Trump a few days ago not to impose these huge tariffs.
Sen. Orrin Hatch has condemned them as well:
Chairman @senorrinhatch’s statement on the president’s comments that he plans to announce tariffs on steel and aluminum. pic.twitter.com/z5yfDlW8Vd
— Senate Finance Committee (@SenFinance) March 1, 2018
After reading about the bitter Oval Office fight over these tariffs, however, I’m not sure that any amount of begging from Congressmen can sway our Economic-Nationalist-in-Chief to not start a trade war. But I’d love to be wrong.