Trump Just Got Himself Primaried After Imposing Tariffs On US Allies

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Republican Senators and the Koch brothers are denouncing Trump’s announcement that he will place tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and the EU.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) tweeted:

Bad news that @POTUS has decided to impose taxes on American consumers buying steel and aluminum from our closest allies–Canada, the EU, and Mexico (with whom we run a trade surplus on steel). In addition to higher prices, these tariffs invite retaliation.

— Senator Pat Toomey (@SenToomey) May 31, 2018

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) said:

Senator @BenSasse on Trump's Trade War: “This is dumb. Europe, Canada, and Mexico are not China, and you don’t treat allies the same way you treat opponents."

— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) May 31, 2018

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) simply tweeted:

Trade wars do not end well. https://t.co/Tv9t2hMUWK

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) May 31, 2018

A recent Morning Consult poll found that 38% of Republicans want Trump primaried in 2020. Only 50% of Republicans said that Trump should not face a primary opponent.

If Trump follows through with his trade war, he will make a powerful enemy out of the Koch brothers, who immediately denounced the new tariffs.

Koch spokesman James Davis told CNBC, “Trade barriers make Americas as a whole poorer and they especially harm those already disadvantaged. Trade wars hurt everyone. They trigger retaliatory tariffs from our trade partners and that raises prices on American families who need affordable access to household goods. We urge the Trump administration to abandon these tariffs.”

Trump has deepened the divide between the free traders and the protectionists in the Republican Party, and it is that divide and the money behind the free traders that could get Trump a serious primary challenge. With only 50% of Republican voters committed to supporting Trump in a 2020 primary, there is an opening. If Trump continues to cater to a slice of the Republican Party, he could end up primaried.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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