Jittery Senate Republicans Urge USTR To Unveil Trade Deals One By One After Trump's Recession Comment: 'We Don't Necessarily Have A Lot Of Tolerance For Pain'

Senate Republicans are showing increasing concern over President Donald Trump‘s comments hinting at the permanency of some of his tariffs. This comes despite the possibility of a short-term recession.

What Happened: President Trump’s weekend comments on the economy and tariffs have stirred up anxiety among Senate Republicans. The President’s unwillingness to rule out long-term tariffs, along with his remarks about a potential recession, has led to market instability and raised doubts about the White House’s economic strategy, as reported by The Hill, 

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) voiced the general sentiment, stating that there is a lot of uneasiness. She emphasized the need for progress in trade deals to alleviate the tension. Despite positive employment numbers, she conceded that even a temporary economic dip could have lasting effects.

"There is a lot of angst out there,” stated Capito despite her trust in Trump and his policies. She added, “…we don't necessarily have a lot of tolerance for pain."

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) expressed, "I don't like the idea of permanent tariffs unless we can't come to an agreement with other countries on fair and free trade.”

Notably, Senate Republicans have collectively called on U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to roll out individual trade agreements as they are finalized, instead of presenting them all in a major summer announcement, to ease consumer concerns.

SEE ALSO: US Commerce Secretary Lutnick Skeptical Of Trade Deal With Canada’s ‘Socialist Regime’ Ahead Of Trump-Carney Meeting: ‘They’ve Been Basically Feeding Off Of Us For Decades Upon Decades..’

Why It Matters: The Trump administration has been known for imposing heavy tariffs, only to backtrack temporarily in search of deals. A significant 145% tariff on imports from China remains in place.

During an extended appearance on "Meet the Press" Sunday, Trump told host Kristen Welker, "Look, yeah, it's — everything's OK," when asked about the possibility of a recession. "This is a transition period,” he added.

The recent comments by President Trump are in stark contrast to the economic agenda defended by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In an Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Bessent argued that Trump’s economic approach would benefit Main Street while maintaining Wall Street’s strength.

Earlier, Bessent had stated that it was up to China to de-escalate the ongoing trade war. He had mentioned that the 125%, 145% tariffs were unsustainable, which is in direct contradiction to Trump’s recent remarks.

The growing unease among Senate Republicans and the apparent contradiction within the administration’s economic strategy raise questions about the future of U.S. trade policies.

• READ MORE: Peter Lynch’s Market Observation: ‘Far More Money Has Been Lost By Investors Preparing For Corrections, Than Has Been Lost In Corrections Themselves’ – Benzinga

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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