Kentucky Governor Blasts Trump Tariffs 30% Higher Costs for Supporters

Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear has criticized President Trump's tariff policies, stating that they are negatively impacting his own supporters. Beshear noted that working families in Kentucky, who were instrumental in Trump's victory in the state by over 30 percentage points, are now facing higher costs due to the administration's fluctuating trade agenda. He emphasized that many Kentuckians voted for Trump with the expectation that he would ease their financial burdens, not exacerbate them.

Last week, the White House issued a series of tariff threats to multiple countries. On Monday, Trump sent letters to 14 countries warning of new tariffs starting in August. By Wednesday, this number had increased to 21, with additional warnings sent to countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Moldova. Trump also threatened Brazil with a 50 percent tariff due to an ongoing criminal trial against former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, a long-time ally accused of attempting to overturn his country’s 2022 election results. Beshear described Trump's tariff strategy as chaotic and lacking logic, stating that it has increased costs and put Kentucky's trade relationships at risk. Japan and Canada are two of Kentucky’s biggest international partners, with 22 percent of the state’s exports going to Canada and significant investments from Japan.

A recent poll conducted in June by Politico and Public First revealed that one in four Trump voters believe the president’s tariffs are hindering trade negotiations. Additionally, less than half of Trump's voters expressed support for his tariff plan for China if it meant higher prices at home. This shift in sentiment indicates growing uncertainty among Trump's voter base regarding his tariff policies, which could pose new political challenges for the administration. Beshear, a Democrat who has won three statewide races in Kentucky, criticized Trump's economic actions, stating that they do not align with the promises that got him elected. He also slammed Trump's July 4 health care law, which requires people on Medicaid to prove they are working or risk losing their coverage. Beshear described this move as a "ruse" that could result in nearly 5 million people losing their Medicaid coverage by 2034 due to paperwork issues. He argued that the real aim is to confuse people and cause them to lose their coverage, which he deemed wrong and cruel.