Democratic Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky’s two Republican U.S. senators agree on at least one major issue: tariffs. After speaking at a Juneteenth event in Lexington, Beshear reiterated his opposition to the central tool in President Trump’s trade toolkit.
“What we're seeing are small businesses really challenged with their costs fluctuating so much month to month, with the extra costs of tariffs making their products either unaffordable or very difficult to afford for the American people.”
The Trump administration says tariffs raise revenue for the government, protect American businesses, move manufacturing to the U.S. and create jobs for American workers. Meanwhile, Paul and Congressman Thomas Massie oppose the president’s proposed budget, saying it would add trillions to the national debt. Beshear was asked if both issues could be a wedge for Democrats in a Republican-dominated state.
“If they cut Medicaid and tariffs continue to impact jobs, you are going to see people expressing regret or even betrayal that a president that said he was going to make their life easier is making it that much harder.”
The president’s supporters say estimates of the debt added by his proposed budget – including by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office – are overstated.
