Greg NashSen. John Kennedy (R-La.) arrives for the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) criticized President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, arguing an “eye for an eye just leaves both people blind.”
Kennedy, who serves on the Banking and Budget Committee, joined MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” just hours after Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs went into place, with an emphasis on China.
“With tariffs, an eye for an eye just leaves both people blind,” Kennedy said. “When a government imposes a tariff, it’s putting its thumb on the scale. It interferes with people’s freedom to exchange goods and services.”
Kennedy pointed to China’s trade barriers and how it will hurt the American economy.
China on Wednesday announced a new 50 percent tariff on U.S. exports, furthering the trade war between the two countries. It brings Chinese tariffs on the U.S. to a total of 84 percent after it originally announced a 34 percent tariff.
After China retaliated with that original tariff, Trump doubled down and announced the country would now be facing a more than 100 percent tariff.
Later Wednesday, he hiked it up to 125 percent tariff on Chinese goods “based on the lack of respect” the country showed.
Trump also walked back the tariffs on other countries, implementing a 90-day pause and capping the reciprocal tariffs to 10 percent, except China.
While Kennedy is not entirely on board with Trump’s tariff agenda, several of his GOP colleagues in the Senate aren’t either.
Seven other Republican senators signed on to a bipartisan bill that would require congressional approval for Trump’s tariffs to be implemented.
Tags Donald Trump John Kennedy trade war Trump administration Trump tariff agenda
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