'Republican Infighting': Top GOP Senators are reportedly 'breaking with Trump' on key plan
Donald Trump's policy suggestions aren't exactly being embraced by Republican Senate leaders, according to a new report Sunday.
Axios reported over the weekend that "Top Senate Republicans are breaking with former President Trump over his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on goods coming into the U.S."
"The comments from senators, including two vying to replace Mitch McConnell as GOP leader, signal the potential for a fresh round of Republican infighting over trade and the economy if Trump wins on Nov. 5," according to the report.
ALSO READ: We asked 10 Republican senators: ‘Is Kamala Harris Black?’ Things got weird fast.
The report includes the names of the two top-ranking Republicans, including Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
"When asked if they supported the blanket 10% tariff on imports that Trump has floated, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) both showed significant daylight with their party's standard-bearer," the report states. It quotes Thune as saying, "There are ways that you can selectively use [tariffs] as a tool to achieve economic policy outcomes, but just uniform, across-the-board tariffs is not something I have been for in the past."
According to the report, "Cornyn, who is also running for GOP leader, described across-the-board tariffs as potentially 'problematic.'"
The report continues:
"Some senators suggested the former president ultimately could be convinced to soften his actual plan, with many expressing concerns about the inflationary effects of universal 10% tariffs."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and others have also expressed concerns about Trump's trade plan, Axios reports.