Prominent Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are drawing attention this week for past support of tariff policies similar to those implemented by President Donald Trump as part of his administration’s recent “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs, as reported by The Western Journal.
On Wednesday, Pelosi criticized Trump’s tariff strategy on X, writing: “Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs will cause chaos in our economy, raise prices for consumers and hurt hardworking American families. This is not a strategy — it’s the largest tax hike on the American people in history.”
The comment came in response to the economic adjustments taking place as Trump’s reciprocal tariffs begin to take effect. Despite market volatility and transitional disruptions, the White House has maintained that these changes are necessary for long-term economic restructuring and domestic recovery.
However, a resurfaced video from 1996, shared by Trump’s rapid response team on X and aired by Fox News, shows Pelosi voicing support for reciprocal trade measures. In the footage, she criticized Chinese tariffs on American goods, echoing Trump’s longstanding concern about the U.S.-China trade imbalance.
Pelosi is not the only Democrat under scrutiny for shifting positions on tariffs.
In another clip from 2008, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont — an independent who caucuses with Democrats — advocated for bringing jobs back from overseas, including China. This position aligns with Trump’s tariff-based approach aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign labor markets.
That speech, aired by Fox, included Sanders calling for action to reverse trade practices that he argued had harmed American workers. The footage also includes a reference to the late Republican Senator John McCain, placing the remarks during Sanders’ 2008 presidential campaign activities.
In a separate instance from 2018, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced support for Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on China.
However, Schumer has since reversed course, recently accusing Trump of starting a “financial forest fire” and claiming the tariffs would raise consumer costs.
The contrast between current Democratic messaging and these earlier statements has been widely circulated online following “Liberation Day.” Supporters of the administration have highlighted what they call a pattern of policy reversals based on partisan opposition to Trump, rather than substantive disagreement with the policies themselves.
President Trump has remained consistent in his support for reciprocal tariffs, framing them as necessary tools to protect American workers and rebalance global trade practices.
Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla – Shutterstock.com
His administration has acknowledged the economic challenges accompanying the implementation but argues they are part of a broader recovery strategy.
The resurfaced footage adds to the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and consistency of Democratic economic messaging as the country continues adjusting to post-Biden economic reforms following the November 5, 2024, election.
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