By Gloria Ogbonna
During a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC’s The Weeknight, U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) said he believes Republican lawmakers will ultimately refuse to support continuing President Donald Trump’s newly implemented tariff policies, arguing that the political and economic consequences could be too severe for them to ignore.
Markey made the comments while speaking with co-host Alicia Menendez, who asked what he expected would happen when the 150-day period tied to the tariffs expires and the issue comes before Congress for review.
In response, Markey predicted Republicans would quickly distance themselves from the policy.
“I think that they’re going to run, not walk, away from the Trump tariff policies,” Markey said. “This is shaping up to be a huge political liability for the Trump administration.
What’s happening right now is that Republican members of the House and Senate are being placed in a very difficult position, especially as they face reelection campaigns this year.”
Markey argued that the tariffs are already creating backlash among small business owners and everyday Americans, many of whom he said feel financially squeezed by the added costs.
“Main Street America is going to respond strongly,” he said. “Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and consumers are going to demand accountability. They’re going to be angry at any Republican who refuses to support returning this money back to the American people.”
The Massachusetts senator also revealed that he is working alongside fellow Democratic lawmakers, including Ron Wyden and Jeanne Shaheen, to push for a formal confrontation over the tariff issue in the Senate.
“We are going to work very hard to force a showdown on the Senate floor,” Markey said. “Our goal is to make sure consumers and small businesses receive the relief they deserve, especially after recent legal developments that strengthened their case.”
Markey was referring to a recent Supreme Court-related decision that he and other Democrats say gives momentum to efforts aimed at returning tariff-related funds. According to him, federal agencies will now play a key role in determining how to handle the situation.
“It will be up to Customs and Border Protection, and it will also be up to the Department of the Treasury, to develop a plan,” Markey explained. “That plan must focus on returning the estimated $170 billion that has been collected from American businesses, families, and consumers through these tariffs.”
He emphasized that the financial burden has affected companies of all sizes, from small family-owned businesses to large corporations, and warned that frustration is already building.
“Small businesses across this country are angry right now,” Markey said. “They feel they’ve been unfairly forced to shoulder these costs, and they’re looking to Congress for action.”
The debate over tariffs is expected to become a major political issue in the coming months, particularly as lawmakers weigh the economic impact on American consumers against broader trade and economic goals.
With the review period approaching, both parties are likely to face increasing pressure from voters, businesses, and advocacy groups as they decide whether to continue or roll back the policy.
Source Breitbart