‘A real horror show’: Democrats on the Hill react to Trump’s proposed tariffs

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Democrats reacted with consternation to Donald Trump’s vow to impose massive tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, saying that the president-elect has failed to grasp the potential consequences of his promises and is heading into a “real horror show.” Senator Richard Blumenthal told CNN on Tuesday that Trump would face a “hugely negative reaction” from the tariffs from US citizens once the effects were felt at home and that he would be “held accountable.” On Monday, the president-elect threatened to unilaterally impose large consumption taxes on Americans who purchase imported goods from three of the country’s top trading partners on the day he takes office – ostensibly with the aim of stopping drug smuggling. open image in gallery Democratic Sentor Richard Blumenthal said that Trump would face a ‘hugely negative reaction’ once the effects of his proposed tariffs were felt at home in the US “I think gonna have to live with those consequences and be held accountable.” Blumenthal’s fellow Democratic Senator, Brian Schatz, told reporters on Tuesday that he was also worried that Trump’s tariff plan would cause Americans to face higher prices for their goods and that the president-elect would be unimpeded with his actions. open image in gallery Senator Brian Schatz said he was worried that Trump’s tariff plan would cause Americans to face higher prices for their goods “Donald Trump has very few policy views over the last 20-30 years. Vice President Kamala Harris insisted during her campaign that they would become, in essence, a “national sales tax” since the cost of the tariffs would fall on U.S. consumers rather than foreign companies.