Politics
Marjorie Taylor Greene Breaks With Trump, Calls Tariffs ‘Bumpy’ for U.S. Trade
By Jake Beardslee · October 14, 2025
A Rare Break from the Party Line
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of President Donald Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress, has acknowledged that the administration’s sweeping tariffs are creating problems for American manufacturers. Speaking on "The Tim Dillon Show," Greene described the rollout of Trump’s trade agenda as “bumpy.” Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Support for Trump, But Concerns About Impact
“I do appreciate the president’s efforts. He’s trying to end wars. He’s also trying to make it fair again for American trade,” Greene said in the episode released Saturday. “But at the same time, that’s getting — that is bumpy. It’s bumpy.”The Georgia Republican said she has heard from manufacturing companies that broadly support Trump’s effort to rebalance global trade but are struggling to secure materials due to the tariffs. “We’re having problems with these tariffs,” Greene said, quoting the complaints she’s received from business leaders. “We can’t get supplies from this country, and we can’t get supplies from this country. And there’s — there’s problems.” Alex Gould/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
White House Defends the Tariffs
White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration’s trade policy, highlighting recent economic indicators. Desai pointed to “trillions in historic investment commitments” and a decline in inflation as evidence that Trump’s economic strategy was working.“As the Administration's pro-growth tax cuts, deregulation, and unprecedented trade deals continue to kick in, Americans can rest assured that the best is yet to come,” Desai said. René DeAnda / Unsplash
Broader Critiques from Within the GOP
Though Greene reaffirmed her overall support for Trump, her remarks marked a rare instance of public disagreement with the administration. She has also recently criticized her party for lacking a plan to prevent a surge in healthcare premiums when Affordable Care Act tax credits expire later this year.“Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!!” Greene wrote on X on October 6.
The government shutdown that began in early October has largely stemmed from disagreements over how to address that healthcare issue. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Greene on Labor Shortages and Immigration Policy
Greene also warned that Trump’s immigration crackdown could hurt businesses dependent on undocumented labor. “I own a construction company, so I'm gonna speak from very real experience: We have a labor force in America, across many industries, that has been built on illegal labor,” she said. “We have to do something about labor, and that needs to be a smarter plan than just rounding up every single person and deporting them, just like that.”White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson countered that Trump’s approach aims to prioritize American workers. “There is no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labor force, and President Trump's agenda to create jobs for American workers represents this Administration's commitment to capitalizing on that untapped potential while delivering on our mandate to enforce our immigration laws,” Jackson said. Megan Smith / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
