Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Tariffs: ‘This Is the Worst Economic Policy of My Lifetime’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
SHARPTON: “Now, staying on that topic, Kentucky is one of our states most reliant on on global trade, particularly in its lumber, automotive and bourbon producing industries, all of which have taken a beating due to the Trump tariffs. Do you have any signal or faith that he’ll take some action to help your state’s biggest industries out?”

BESHEAR: “Well, I certainly hope so, because tariffs are ultimately a tax on the American people. And my people are getting hit hard up to $2,700 in additional costs for my Kentucky families and for American families with a lot of families out there. You had $2,700 in extra costs, and they’re just not going to make it. But then you look at the impact on different businesses. You look at what’s happening in bourbon, not just because of tariffs, but because Donald Trump insulted Canadian sovereignty, insulted an entire people, and they’ve stopped buying that American product. You look at our automotive industry where certain parts are made in Canada and in Mexico, oftentimes assembled in the United States by American workers who make good wages. And the impact it’s having there you see different projects reshoring that was going on before Donald Trump of manufacturing pausing. Why? Because tariffs could have 30% additional costs to what it takes to build that factory. And a lot of companies simply can’t do it. This is the worst economic policy of my lifetime. And, reverend, if your viewers don’t believe me, listen, in my state, it’s not just me. It’s Republican senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul who say tariffs are bad policy. So if I, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul all agree something’s a bad policy, it must be a bad policy.”