Mitch McConnell says Trump's tariffs will 'drive the cost of everything up'
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- Sen. Mitch McConnell criticized Trump's across-the-board tariffs in an interview on Sunday.
- He said the tariffs will "drive the cost of everything up" and antagonize US allies.
- "It will be paid for by American consumers," the former Senate GOP leader said.
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, fresh off the end of his 18-year tenure as Senate Republican leader, is sounding off against looming tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Trump signed executive orders on Saturday that will impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. On Monday, Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the tariffs on the country will be delayed a month.
"It will drive the cost of everything up," McConnell said in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday. "In other words, it will be paid for by American consumers."
He also noted that Mexico and Canada are longtime US allies: "Why would you want to get in a fight with your allies over this?"
“[Tariffs] will drive the cost of everything up. In other words, it will be paid for by American consumers. I mean, why would you want to get in a fight with your allies over this?” asks Sen. Mitch McConnell. https://t.co/sZ8KLQcijQ pic.twitter.com/TwI1PodU8V
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 3, 2025
Trump has said the tariffs are designed to coerce the governments of Mexico, Canada, and China to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
The tariffs are set to go into effect at midnight on Tuesday morning, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced retaliatory tariffs. Democrats have largely opposed Trump's move, also arguing that it will drive up the cost of consumer goods from those countries.
McConnell, a longtime Trump critic, isn't the only Republican who's criticizing the tariffs.
"Tariffs are simply taxes," Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky wrote on X. "Conservatives once united against new taxes. Taxing trade will mean less trade and higher prices."
McConnell also said that despite his criticism of Trump over tariffs — along with his belief that January 6 is an insurrection for which Trump is responsible — he's likely to be on the same page with the president most of the time.
"I expect to support most of what this administration is trying to accomplish," McConnell said. "So, what happened in the past is irrelevant to me."