Most Republicans on Capitol Hill aren’t yet breaking with Donald Trump over his massive global tariffs. But some of the president’s most loyal supporters are hinting that they want the dealmaker-in-chief to get busy, and fast.
Key senators on Monday encouraged Trump to quickly secure agreements with key trading partners amid mounting Wall Street losses and rising political anxiety inside the GOP following last week’s tariff announcement, which has escalated into an all-out trade war.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a staunch Trump supporter but a longstanding free-trade advocate, was among those urging rapid rapprochement: “Trump could go down as the most pro-trade, pro-growth president in modern U.S. history if he uses this moment as an opportunity to reduce trade barriers,” he wrote on X.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), another MAGA loyalist who has voiced concerns about Trump’s tariff strategy, aligned himself with Lee: “At some point, you have to take YES for an answer.”
The public encouragement came as some countries publicly indicated they are willing to negotiate, with Vietnam asking over the weekend for a delay in planned 46 percent tariffs and the EU suggesting a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal on industrial goods on Monday.
The administration has touted how many countries have reached out to make deals; U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told members of the House Ways and Means Committee in a Friday briefing that at least 20 nations had approached the U.S. about trade talks, according to attendees. By Monday, that number had grown to nearly 50.
Lawmakers desperate for any off-ramp from the market turmoil have seized on the news. Lee added in a separate post reacting to the EU’s offer: “Let’s take that deal! Much to gain.”
Still, it remains to be seen just how interested Trump is in bilateral agreements. The White House has repeatedly insisted that Wednesday’s tariff announcement was not a prelude to negotiation, and Trump himself has suggested he’s not interested in deals that would fall short of equalizing trade volume with negotiating partners.
Lawmakers were hopeful that a White House meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could produce an initial agreement, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing forthcoming talks with Japan. But the administration has been careful not to promise a flurry of agreements.
“Our large and persistent trade deficit has been over 30 years in the making, and it will not be resolved overnight, but all of this is in the right direction,” Greer is set to tell the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday, accounting to prepared testimony obtained by POLITICO.
Trump, meanwhile, is signaling he’s ready to play hardball with any GOP critics. On Monday, he warned his trade opponents on Truth Social: “Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!).” Later in the day, he issued a veto threat targeting a bipartisan bill co-authored by GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa that would curtail the president’s largely unchecked authority to levy tariffs.
These warning shots have effectively boxed in congressional Republicans, with most GOP lawmakers stopping short of publicly criticizing the president despite their heartburn over the tariffs and the subsequent market losses. But others see glimmers of hope that he might start reversing course on a country-by-country basis — even if they aren’t willing to formally rein in Trump’s tariff powers.
“There’s some movement from Vietnam where there is some negotiating — where they’ve reached out — there is some hope that that could calm the markets sooner rather than later,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said in a brief interview late last week.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in his “Verdict” podcast Monday that if Trump is able to effectively use leverage to cut trade deals, it would be a “massive victory” while also questioning whether those around him preferred a prolonged trade war.
“There are voices in the White House that want high tariffs forever,” he said. “There are angels and demons sitting on President Trump’s shoulders. Who does he listen to? I hope he listens to the angels.”
One group of Republicans who aren’t showing any daylight are top congressional leaders, who continue to say they plan to give Trump time to let his tariff plan play out — and kill any legislation that would short-circuit the developing trade war.
“We’re going to give him the space necessary to do it and we’ll see how it all develops,” Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday. “It’s only been a week.” Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of Grassley’s bill, “I don’t think that has a future.”
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
