Letter to the editor: Trump finally admits his tariffs hurt Americans

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 12.04.25

President Trump falsely claimed that his tariffs are paid by foreigners. He repeated this lie despite the fact that economists agree that tariffs are taxes on American importers that are passed along to American consumers as higher prices.

Heritage Foundation economist Stephen Moore, Trump’s former senior economic adviser and author of the book “Trumponomics” explained: “Tariffs are taxes — and taxes are bad.” Moore said tariffs increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, “clobbering” American manufacturers. He cited a Wall Street Journal report that coffee is the commodity with the single fastest growth in prices because of Trump’s tariff on Brazil, our largest source of imported coffee. “Well, guess what?” said Moore, “We put a 50% tariff on coffee. So, yeah, the coffee price went up!”

American small businesses challenged the tariffs as an illegal encroachment on the core power of Congress to impose taxes. Their case was argued on Nov. 5 before the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts pointedly called the tariffs an “imposition of taxes on Americans.” Justice Sotomayor said, “They’re generating money from American citizens.”

Asked about the Justices’ comments, Trump grudgingly conceded, “I think that they might be paying something.” In a Nov. 24 Truth Social post, Trump went even further, saying the full impact of his tariffs will soon hit American consumers just in time for Christmas.

“Many of the buyers of goods and products, in order to avoid paying the Tariffs in the short term, ‘STOCK UP’ by purchasing far more inventory than they can use,” Trump explained. “That heavy inventory purchase is now, however, wearing thin, and soon tariffs will be paid on everything they apply to, without avoidance.”

So, hurry up Christmas shoppers, before those sweet pre-tariff inventories disappear, or you’ll miss your last chance to avoid Trump’s inflationary tariffs. Oh, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas! With a bigly emphasis on “little,” thanks to Trump and his tariffs.

Bob Bannerman

Supply