President Donald Trump’s trade war is his newest loyalty test — maybe the biggest one in years. And the stakes couldn’t be higher, not only for the U.S. economy but also the GOP’s hold on Washington beyond 2026.
The White House and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are trying to head off any possibility that GOP lawmakers rebel in large numbers against Trump’s stunningly risky tariff regime.
“Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!),” Trump posted to X on Monday as Wall Street and global markets were crashing again. “Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!”
The White House also issued a formal veto threat against a bipartisan bill from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that would limit the president’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs.
While Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick – and Trump – have repeatedly insisted Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on dozens of the top U.S. trading partners aren’t a negotiating ploy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead negotiations with the Japanese government over trade relations between the two countries.
“President Trump again gave himself maximum negotiating leverage,” Bessent said on Fox Business. “Just when he achieved the maximum leverage, he’s willing to start talking,”
Speaker Mike Johnson — who signaled he’d never move legislation limiting Trump’s tariff powers in his chamber — pushed the “Trust Trump” button early and often Monday.
“I think you gotta give the president the latitude… the runway to do what he was elected to do, and that is get this economy going. Get our trade balanced with other countries,” Johnson told reporters.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has made no secret of his opposition to across-the-board tariffs, maintained that Trump deserves time and space to reach his ultimate goals. Referencing the Trump veto threat, Thune suggested the bipartisan push won’t become law.
Shut it down. Johnson and Thune’s comments, for now at least, appear to have quashed an uprising among the rank-and-file GOP lawmakers. Another day of mega market volatility didn’t push additional Republican senators to sign onto the Grassley-Cantwell bill.
But Trump isn’t making it easy for Republicans. GOP senators say they’re confused about what exactly Trump is trying to accomplish or his endgame.
“We don’t know how long it will take. We don’t know what the short-term consequences will be,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). “We don’t know if the medicine will be worse than the disease… We’re in the economic unknown.”
Still, Kennedy said Trump “deserves a chance, within reason, to see his plan through.” Kennedy told us he’d give Trump “a fair amount” of latitude.
“It’s been, like five days,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) quipped. “They need more than five days.”
Republicans are pinning the uncertainty not on Trump, but on his aides. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) compared it to an “angels-vs.-demons” situation, saying “there are voices in the White House that want high tariffs forever.”
That should tell you all you need to know about how much deference Republicans are willing to give Trump. And blaming everything on Trump’s aides is a way to avoid criticizing the president himself.
