Trump tariff pause leads Schumer to pivot criticism to ‘governing by chaos’
Minutes after President Donald Trump announced a pause on some reciprocal tariffs, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused the administration of “feeling the heat” from Democrats. However, he maintained that “irretrievable damage” had already been inflicted on the U.S. economy.
Schumer, along with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both D-N.Y., had planned to address reporters about the impact of Trump’s tariffs on personal IRAs and brokerage accounts. However, they shifted focus as news of the tariff pause broke. “It’s still an issue, but not today,” Schumer remarked.
“We’re going to talk about what just happened… Let’s be clear. Donald Trump is feeling the heat from Democrats and across America about how bad these tariffs are. He is reeling. He is retreating, and that is a good thing,” Schumer asserted.
Joined by Sens. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Andy Kim, D-N.J., the New York lawmakers collectively condemned the “chaos” in the White House. Gillibrand cautioned that while Trump may have paused some tariffs, a 10% tariff remained in place on all affected goods. This uncertainty, she argued, would hinder businesses from making investment decisions or expanding their workforce.
“A 90-day pause means they don’t know what’s gonna happen at the end of the 90 days. A 10% is still going to hurt our families. These tariffs and this trade war are absurd. They’re going to increase costs for everyday goods, from food to housing to anything you buy for your family or your children. It’s going to fuel inflation,” Gillibrand emphasized.
Schumer criticized the Trump administration for governing through chaos and lacking a grasp of world affairs. He warned that market unpredictability would impede investment and job creation, leaving American businesses unable to plan for the future. Hirono echoed these sentiments, describing Trump’s second term as a series of crises.
Kim added that the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs was harming small businesses in New Jersey, with the U.S. losing its global leadership under Trump’s presidency. He called for a shift towards building an economy that could compete with China, decrying the “America alone” stance of the current administration.
In response to Schumer’s criticisms, Trump defended his tariff strategy, claiming that long-term benefits would require a period of adjustment as part of a transition to greatness. Fox Business reached out to the White House for comment, but no response was received at the time.
As the debate continues over the impact of Trump’s tariffs, it remains to be seen how the U.S. economy will weather the storm of uncertainty and trade tensions.
