'Tariffs Are Going to Be a Huge Help': Tuberville Defends Trump’s Trade War

Tuberville Lays Out Tax and Trade Vision in WABC Interview

In an appearance on "Cats Roundtable" with host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM this Sunday, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) laid out his case for tax reforms aimed at easing burdens on working Americans, while endorsing President Donald Trump’s broad tariff agenda. Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tuberville Praises UK Trade Deal, Says Tariffs Will Boost U.S. Farmers and Pressure China

Tuberville began the conversation by applauding Trump’s recent trade agreement with the United Kingdom, which opens new markets for American beef, ethanol, and dairy while maintaining certain tariff protections on UK auto imports.

“Our farmers are going to benefit from this because they’re going to take more imports from the United States to the UK, and that’s going to help all of our farmers across the country,” he said. “I think they’re just going to fall in line from here. The tariffs are going to be a huge help for the American taxpayers across our country and make fair trade—and of course put a lot of pressure on China.” The White House / Wikimedia

Tuberville Focuses on Overtime Tax Relief

The Alabama senator also highlighted his recently introduced Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act, which would allow workers to deduct up to $10,000 ($20,000 for joint filers) in overtime pay from their taxable income starting in 2026. The bill defines qualifying overtime as wages earned at least 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. The deduction phases out gradually for individuals earning over $100,000 and couples over $200,000.

“There’s millions of people across this country that work more than 40 hours a week,” he said. “They’re getting stuck with a bigger tax bill when they’re paying for overtime.” He added, “We’ve got to do more for the hardworking taxpayers of this country.” Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

Failure to Pass Tax Bill Would Be ‘Disaster,’ Tuberville Warns

Tuberville linked this push to broader Republican concerns about tax burdens. “If we don’t [pass the new tax bill], it’ll be disaster for us in the midterms coming up,” he said. “Because every taxpayer in the country will have to pay a lot higher taxes than they’ve ever paid before in their life.” Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Criticism of Federal Spending and Lack of Oversight

“You get to a point where you say, well, the federal government, I mean, what are they doing?” Tuberville said. “They have to wake up and start— instead of penalizing the taxpayers—start helping the taxpayers.” Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Tuberville Condemns Scale of COVID-Era Federal Spending

Referring to pandemic-era federal spending, Tuberville said bluntly: “How do you account, John, for $7 trillion? I don’t think people really understand the amount of money that $7 trillion is… it’s a crying damn shame.” Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Concerns About Misuse of Social Security Funds

The senator also touched on tax issues surrounding Social Security, lamenting that retirees are often still taxed despite decades of contributions.

“That’s a retirement check that the American people were promised,” he said. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

China Under Pressure But Risk of Conflict Remains, Tuberville Says

Tuberville argued that the Trump tariffs had placed China in an economic "quandary,” but warned that the pressure could also increase the likelihood of conflict. “When somebody is reeling like that and really hurting, sometimes that’s the worst... that’s the time that they might start fighting,” he said. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Tariff Critics Cite Increased Costs for U.S. Households

While Tuberville defended the Trump administration’s economic agenda, critics of the tariffs have pointed to rising consumer costs. Estimates by the Yale University Budget Lab suggest the typical American household could face an average purchasing power loss of $4,700 in 2024 dollars as a result of the trade war. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Breakdown of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariff Initiative

Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff initiative, announced in early April, placed a universal 10% tax on imports and higher rates on select trade partners. The White House / Wikimedia

Tuberville Urges GOP Unity on Taxpayer-Focused Agenda

Nevertheless, Tuberville insisted the approach was necessary. “We need to get all the Republicans to understand that we have to continue to do what’s best for the taxpayers of the country.” Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK