Senators Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Governor Andy Beshear have repeatedly criticized President Trump's tariff plan, arguing that it would equate to higher prices for all Americans. Beshear said tariffs will significantly impact Kentucky because of its reliance on global trade. Exports in Bourbon alone bring in approximately $500 million annually to the Commonwealth. Beshear called Trump's tariffs one of the worst mistakes he has seen from a President in his lifetime.
“It’s not just me that's saying all this. It's Rand Paul. It's Mitch McConnell. It's anybody who's willing to tell the truth to the American people. And I think that the president's been very clear. This is his call, which means the economic harm that's being caused is directly attributable to him because he's owning every decision on this,” Beshear said.
Senator McConnell recently called tariffs a flawed policy and a tax on working Americans and said that Kentucky will be the state hit the hardest by these policies because of our dependence on international trade.
During his most recent Team Kentucky press briefing, Beshear asked Kentuckians who oppose the tariffs to speak out.
“The most important voice is the voice of the American family that's struggling,” said Beshear. “Everybody has a phone now. Everybody can tell their story. Everybody's connected online to a certain number of people. And the more those stories get out there, the more and more and more the American people will see what a bad plan this is.”
Last week, a bipartisan measure to rein in Trump's tariff authority failed. It stalled with a tie vote and needed a majority to pass. McConnell was not present to vote. Paul and two other Republicans joined Democrats in favor of the resolution.
