John Kennedy regretted agreeing with CNN on this dispute with Trump
Most Republicans view CNN as an anti-Trump propaganda outlet.
That put Louisiana Senator John Kennedy in a tough spot.
And John Kennedy regretted agreeing with CNN on this dispute with Trump.
Senate Republicans are a more establishment aligned group.
That puts them more in conflict with President Trump on two issues – foreign policy and trade.
Most Senate Republicans are warmongers that buy into the swamp uniparty consensus on deploying American forces to endless wars across the globe.
Senate Republicans also back a blank check for the conflict in Ukraine and oppose President Trump’s desire to negotiate a peace deal to end the war.
Trade is the latest flashpoint between President Trump and Senate Republicans.
President Trump campaigned on undoing the liberal world order of the last 80 years that sucked jobs and wealth out of America and redistributed it to nations like Communist China, Vietnam and Mexico.
On April 2 Trump imposed global tariffs on what he deemed “Liberation Day.”
The stock market initially panicked, but much of the damage was undone when Trump announced a 90-day pause to allow countries to negotiate trade deals that would eliminate barriers that kept U.S. goods out of the markets.
The media wants to turn the tariffs into a political albatross for Republicans in the 2026 election.
CNN host Jake Tapper asked Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) about a complaint he hears a lot from Congressional Republicans which was that President Trump didn’t properly explain his tariffs to the American people.
“I have heard from Republicans on this show and others saying that they didn’t think President Trump – as great a communicator as they think he is normally – fully explain what he is trying to do with these tariffs,” Tapper stated. “What do you think?”
Kennedy agreed with Tapper and said the administration has offered up multiple rationales for the tariffs.
“I see what you see,” Kennedy answered. “I think I know what’s in the president’s heart, but I don’t know what’s in his head. The people you’re talking about are right. The administration has not given one clear rationale for its tariffs.”
Trump argued that his tariffs will bring about a new golden age where manufacturing returns to America and that the tariffs are a negotiating tactic to force countries to accept fair trade terms for U.S. goods.
Kennedy figured Trump offered various justifications for his tariffs as an intentional act and part of the President’s deal making strategy.
“I think that’s intentional. I don’t know, but my guess is, it’s intentional. And that it’s part of the president’s negotiating strategy, but Jake, I don’t want to feign understanding. I don’t know,” Kennedy added.
Kennedy said President Trump thinks now is his chance to make good on a fundamental campaign promise so he took the biggest swing possible.
“The president believes if you’re gonna be a bear, be a grizzly. Like him or dislike him, agree or disagree – right now, he’s being a grizzly,” Kennedy continued.
But Kennedy didn’t say if he agreed taking this big swing was a good move and his comments clearly show he is uneasy with Trump’s trade agenda.
