Summary
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) warned of uncertainty over Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, saying, “In the long run, we’re all dead,” and slammed blind loyalty to the policy.
While Kennedy didn’t vote against Trump’s emergency tariff powers—unlike four GOP senators—he criticized the lack of clarity on economic impacts.
Trump imposed a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, falsely claiming foreign nations will bear the cost.
Kennedy told Newsmax that predictions on the tariffs’ effects are unreliable, adding anyone claiming certainty is “lying” or “selling deep stupid.”
Exactly. It seems people really need it spelled out to them: he’s saying protectionism works in the long term but they’re old and will all be dead(a keynes quote “The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead”). He’s wrong though. Protectionism, which are essentially self sanctions, can develop an industry as much as not. Nothing’s a vacuum.