President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs on nearly 200 countries have led to significant market disruption and increased division within the Republican Party, with some of his most steadfast supporters expressing concerns about the economic implications.
Scott Jennings, a Republican commentator on CNN’s “NewsNight” and usually a strong Trump advocate, made a noteworthy admission on Thursday, April 3, 2025, regarding the president’s contentious tariff policy.
“I have mixed feelings about this, truthfully,” Jennings stated on air, acknowledging that the tariffs had already negatively impacted stock markets and fueled fears of a potential global recession.
Jennings, who seldom questions Trump’s decisions, elaborated on his conflicted stance: “I wasn’t trained to believe in tariffs. You know, those of us who grew up as traditional Republicans have always thought what Ronald Reagan thought. And so what Trump is doing here is implanting new economic theory DNA inside of the Republican Party.”
The CNN commentator and former George W. Bush staffer noted that Republicans are responding to the tariffs in three main ways: some are “rejecting it,” others are “reluctantly going along with it,” and a third group is “enthusiastically embracing it.”
Trump’s tariff strategy has led to unprecedented division among Republican leaders. Four Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul, both from Kentucky, openly opposed the president by voting for a Senate resolution to reverse the 25% tariffs specifically targeting Canadian products.
McConnell criticized the tariffs as “bad policy” that would harm American workers and increase consumer prices. Other prominent Republican senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and John Kennedy of Louisiana, have all publicly expressed opposition or concern.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, along with Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, has introduced bipartisan legislation that would require congressional approval for any tariffs within 60 days of the president’s proposal. In the House, Representative Don Bacon, a Republican, plans to introduce a companion bill, although House Republican leadership has moved to prevent such legislation from reaching a vote.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has also joined the group of Republicans cautioning about potential repercussions, with some party members predicting a “bloodbath” for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections if the tariffs lead to a recession.
The tariffs have already sent ripples through global markets, with U.S. stocks experiencing their worst day since 2020. Financial analysts are increasingly concerned, with the head of economic research at JP Morgan raising the probability of a global recession to 60%.
Compounding market uncertainty, senior officials within Trump’s administration have provided conflicting messages about the tariffs. Some cabinet members have described them as permanent measures, while others have suggested they are opening positions for negotiations with individual countries.
Despite increasing criticism from Republicans, Jennings expressed some understanding of Trump’s stance. “I am also persuaded, frankly, by the Trump argument regarding the working class in this country, and also by the fairness argument,” he said.
Jennings, a former Bush administration staffer, offered a straightforward assessment of the political risks involved. He noted that if the plan succeeds, it would be one of the boldest moves a president has made in decades. However, if it fails, the responsibility would rest solely on the president.
Fellow CNN analyst Xochitl Hinojosa, a former spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, agreed with Jennings’ analysis that responsibility for the policy rests squarely with Trump.
Public reaction to the tariffs appears divided along partisan lines. A recent poll showed most Americans were skeptical, even before observing the immediate economic impact. In Phoenix, Arizona, older residents interviewed about the tariffs typically expressed opinions that aligned with their political affiliation – Democrats voiced more concern about a potential recession, while Republicans showed a greater willingness to trust the president’s economic strategy.
The Trump administration has defended its tariff policy as necessary to address what it sees as decades of unfair trade practices by other nations. Administration officials argue that the rest of the world has been “ripping off America” and that current trade relationships particularly disadvantage American workers.
A conservative legal organization, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a small stationery company called Simplified, argues that the president lacks the authority to impose such tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
As the political and economic consequences continue to unfold, many in both parties are closely monitoring whether Trump’s unconventional economic approach will achieve its objectives or further destabilize an already uncertain global economy.
