Senate Republican: Trump ‘very well aware’ of potential tariff risks

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) weighed in on President Trump’s looming tariffs, saying Trump is “very well aware” of the potential risks they could have on everyday Americans.

Still, Johnson acknowledged in an interview Tuesday on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” he has constituents in Wisconsin who are “concerned.”

“The president is very well aware of those concerns and of the potential risks,” the Republican senator told host Blake Burman, adding that the president has “great economic advisers” to aid in his decisions. He pointed specifically to National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

“These are smart people, and, you know, tariffs are a double-edged sword,” he continued. “I mean, there’s no doubt about it that we have trading partners that don’t treat us fairly. And I want free, but I need fair trade as well.” 

His comments came a day before Trump is set to announce sweeping tariffs on certain goods and reciprocal taxes on many countries. The president has deemed Wednesday as “Liberation Day.” 

Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on imports from some of the U.S.’s top trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China, along with all foreign aluminum and steel. Tariffs on foreign vehicles and auto parts are also set to begin this week. 

Johnson, who earlier this week said the Badger State would likely be hit “particularly hard” with the tariffs, argued that Trump “demonstrated” he was able to utilize the threat of additional taxes “effectively” in his first White House term to secure the southern border. 

“Nobody knows exactly what he’s thinking. Nobody knows how long these things would last. You know, he’s obviously trying,” the Wisconsin Republican said. “When he’s talking about reciprocal tariffs, he’s trying to get free and fair trade, but he understands, this is kind of a high-risk proposition.”  

“You take a look at what’s happened in the stock market. I’m surely concerned. We have a lot of constituents in manufacturing, farming, who are also concerned,” he added. “But this isn’t something that President Trump is not aware of.” 

Trump’s tariffs will likely slow the economy, raise inflation and spike the unemployment rate, according to economists at Goldman Sachs. 

Johnson said in early March that long-term 25 percent tariffs against the U.S.’s main trading partners would end up hurting average Americans. 

“It’s going to hurt Americans, American companies, American exporters, it’ll hurt American consumers long term,” the senator said at the time.