Democrats and the corporate media have pulled out all the stops to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to rebalance global trade in favor of American companies and consumers. But as Democrats reflexively bash Trump’s tariff agenda, many of them seem to have forgotten that they once led the charge against unfair trade deals and the offshoring of American jobs.
Fortunately, the magic of the internet means nothing is ever truly forgotten. Here are just a few times Democrats championed the very policies the Trump administration is now pursuing.
Schumer’s Amnesia on China Tariffs
The big news on Monday was President Trump’s announcement that he is prepared to impose an additional 50 percent tariff on China if the communist nation does not remove its 34 percent tariff on American goods. Shortly after that news broke, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that Trump is “threatening to send America right into a recession.”
But not too long ago, Schumer was praising Trump for slapping tariffs on China.
“Look, I think the president is doing the right thing,” Schumer said back in 2018. “China has been taking advantage of us for two decades. They’re stealing our intellectual property which means stealing our good-paying jobs.”
Schumer went on to say that he aligned more closely with Trump on the issue than he did with former Presidents Obama or Bush.
“China of course will respond,” he said. “But if they know we’re strong and we’re not gonna back off, they will back off. They have far more to lose than we do. They have a $300 billion trade surplus with us.”
It seems Schumer would do well to take some advice from himself just seven years ago.
Obama Insists on Trade Reciprocity
In 2018, Former President Barack Obama also demanded fair trade in a statement that, if said today by Trump, would undoubtedly trigger immediate liberal outrage.
“It’s also proper for advanced economies like the United States to insist on reciprocity from nations like China,” Obama said. It was a rare moment of economic wisdom from the 44th president – even if he never actually did anything to follow through on it.
Six years prior to that, in the 2012 presidential debates, Obama proudly defended his administration’s tariffs on Chinese tire imports – a move that directly contradicts today’s Democratic narrative about trade protectionism.
“We put a stop to it, and as a consequence saved jobs throughout America,” Obama said. “I have to say that Governor Romney criticized me for being too tough in that tire case. He said it wouldn’t be good for American workers, and that it would be protectionist, but I tell you those workers don’t feel that way. They feel as if they finally had an administration that was going to take this issue seriously.”
Now, however, amid yet another outbreak of Trump Derangement Syndrome, Obama is claiming that Trump imposing tariffs on China is “undemocratic.”
Bernie Sanders Champions Fair Trade Deals & Protecting American Manufacturing
In 2008, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a warning about unfair trade that sounds eerily like President Trump’s current rhetoric. Sanders argued that outsourcing was stripping American workers of manufacturing jobs — jobs that are the economic backbone of working-class communities.
“Somehow, Madam President, we are going to create wealth in America, and good paying jobs in America, as we shut down plants, we move to China,” he said in a speech on the Senate floor. “Corporations there pay workers 20, 30 cents an hour, and we bring the product back into this country. Anyone who goes shopping in a mall knows how difficult it is today to find a product made in America.”
Now, however, Sanders has been conspicuously silent as Trump has followed through on protecting American jobs.
Nancy Pelosi’s 1996 Trade Prophecy
In a fiery 1996 speech on the House floor, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered a blistering critique of the United States’ growing trade imbalance with the world, specifically calling out how American tariffs on Chinese goods paled in comparison to Chinese tariffs on U.S. products.
Pelosi mentioned that while U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods averaged just two percent, China’s tariffs on American goods soared to 35 percent.
“Is that reciprocal?” she asked. She further demanded truly reciprocal trade measures, arguing that the “status quo” was decimating American manufacturing and economic interests.
Calling the trade relationship a “job loser,” Pelosi’s words feel almost prophetic nearly three decades later.
“In terms of jobs, this is the biggest and cruelest hoax of all,” Pelosi said. “Not only do we not have market access, not only do they have prohibitive tariffs, not only are our exports not let in very specifically, but China benefits with at least, at least, 10 million jobs from U.S.-China trade.”
At the time, Pelosi was celebrated by the media and her Democrat colleagues as a great champion of American jobs – despite the fact that she never passed any policies to actually help American workers. Yet now Trump is being excoriated for following through on rebalancing global trade.
Joe Biden Celebrates Tariffs
In 2024, Former President Joe Biden proudly announced new tariffs on imports from China that would “ensure that our workers are not held back by unfair trade practices.”
Then Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre celebrated the move as “protecting American workers and businesses from China’s unfair trade practices,” using language remarkably similar to Trump’s current rhetoric.
Of course, Biden only got the idea for tariffing China from Trump in the first place – he largely just extended the tariffs Trump implemented during his first term.
Louise Slaughter’s TPP Takedown
Democrat Rep. Louise Slaughter stood with Republicans in 2016 to denounce the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), warning that the trade deal would devastate American workers.
“We are here to send a message loud and clear to this administration: We oppose the TPP because it would be bad for New York and bad for the entire country,” Slaughter declared.
“I have yet to see a trade bill that benefited the American manufacturer and the American worker,” she said. “This trade deal will ship more American jobs overseas, lower wages here at home, and force us to do business with notorious human rights violators such as Malaysia, a country with one of the most egregious records of human trafficking. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to stand up for the American worker and oppose the TPP.”
A year later, Trump officially withdrew the United States from the TPP.
Democrat Rep. Jared Golden Breaks Ranks on Tariffs
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine has become a lone Democrat voice backing President Trump’s tariff plan. Golden has been vocal about his party’s hypocrisy on the issue, stating he is “pleased the president is building his tariff agenda on the foundation of a universal 10 percent tariff like the one I proposed in the BUILT USA Act.”
In an interview earlier this year with Jennifer Rooks on “Maine Calling,” Golden acknowledged the Democrat Party’s history of supporting tariffs of their own, blasting his colleagues’ sudden change of heart as soon as Trump was elected.
“The fact of the matter is these, you know, first round of tariffs, that the country is seeing new tariffs in quite a while, came under the first Trump administration,” Golden said. “What really got my eye was when I recognized that the Biden administration had not removed any of them, and in fact was adding to them.”
These examples are just the start of Democrats’ sudden reversal on tariffs. Once again, liberal leaders have exposed themselves as more interested in political theater and virtue signaling than standing on principle and following through on promises to protect American workers.
Sarah Katherine Sisk is a senior at Hillsdale College pursuing a degree in Economics and Journalism. You can follow her on X @SKSisk76.
Democrat voters are told what to think. There is no consistency in their stances. With the Unions, they were always for tariffs – until Trump championed them, then they were against it. When things were spiraling downhill under Biden and we had two negative growth quarts, they were told it was NOT a recession and though we are not in negative growths, they are being told we are heading into a recession.
And, this junk used to work, but now it only works on the brainwashed, the simple and those who WANT to be brainwashed just to justify their sheer hate.
That is all that is left of the Democrat voters. The brainwashed and the hate bots. THAT is why they have no beliefs, no stances, no opinions – just hate.
And, I should know. I am a lifelong liberal, former lifelong Democrat.
Question. When did it become OK to buy anything from communist countries that use child and forced labor? Countries that pollute at will? Countries that steal our technology?
I get tired of all the dishonesty in Washington, D.C. Blame is on both sides of the aisle. The Democrats have abandoned American blue collar workers. Several Republics talk a good story before every election but once elected do nothing to right the mess both political parties created.
Go Trump! At this point, there shouldn’t be a single citizen that doesn’t assume that IF the Dems are against something, it must be good for America.
Maybe this isn’t the right forum, but I am so fed up with Congress, in general. Both sides. What set me off is the 7 supposed Republicans backing the current power grab on tariffs. I sat down and looked up exactly how many members of Congress get a salary paid by we the people. I know some of this, but there are six people who get paid but can’t vote. We pay a $174,000 yearly “salary” to 541 people in Congress. Plus the benefits which I’m sure are more than double, plus the insider trading info, job prospects after they leave, etc. Just on the salary alone, we pay out 94 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! Right now we are paying half that to people doing nothing but singing badly, cussing in videos and obstructing everything we wanted. Congress is paid by us, yet not a single one of them goes through a background check. They should. And, don’t get me started on Term Limits. We are paying them to shirk their duties and work against the people who elected them. All for power.
We need to STOP allowing our elected representatives to NOT do the work they are getting paid for. I’m done now. Thanks for listening. I’m not on social media, so spread the word!
Democrats have amnesia on everything. They can say something recorded on video and audio and then turn around and say I didn’t say that. And they expect us to believe them. Never believe anything a Democrat says never absolutely never. If their lips are moving you know they are lying. I don’t know anyone can affiliate with a party that lies as much as the Democrats do. They have absolutely no moral backbone. The scary part is is they have children and they’re raising them the same way, and they’re indoctrinating college students the same way. Very frightening
If democRats couldn’t forget their earlier statements they would have nothing else to do.
It’s what Bolsheviks DO, ….. Daily Positional Propaganda, they really didn’t mean it back then or even today, they will say Anything that enables their Lust for power over the peasants.
Democrats just say anything for the political moment. However, these tariffs must be modified or excepted because many industries will take many months to get up to speed. There will be shortages and some price increases and the MSM will hammer every single one.
The Democrats stand for and believe in whatever will gain them political advantage at the given moment.
The motto of the political Left: Power and control, at any price, at any cost, by any means necessary.
Those who still call themselves Democrats are in panic, opposed to tariffs I wonder why, might they be afraid the gravy boat will become empty?Never mined the nation, as long as they are overfed?
Well done article.
The democrats don’t want America to succeed especially under Trump. They are totally inept to lead this country because America has to be made into a third world country in the global new world the WEF with their billionaire members have decided. China will be the power house and America not. Klaus Schwab has retired from the WEF after receiving a million dollar salary all these years. He created the WEF and there are accusations circling around that USAID money was funneled to the WEF. Those that govern over us are receiving our tax money. Not only the WEF but Schumer, Pelosi, Obama the Clinton’s et al. Jasmine Crockett is a multi millionaire after being in Congress only 18 months. Who is now screaming the loudest against anything Trump or Elon are doing. They should start to take a good look at themselves. The accuser is the crook. The protesters in the street can’t form one sentence as to why they are demonstrating. Tariffs will work. Give it time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Even our Good Lord needed 7 days to create heaven and earth. And thank God for videos of the past. All their lies come home to roost.
LETS KEEP THIS SIMPLE: POLITICIANS FROM BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE CAUSED US (AMERICA) ALL THE PROBLEMS WE FACE.
GO BACK IN WORLD HISTORY AND YOU WILL FIND POLITICIANS AND THEIR SO CALLED “EXPERTS” HAVE DESTROYED EVERY GREAT SOCIETY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWWN.
NEXT TIME, BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR SOME POLITICIAN, DO SOME LONG TERM THINKING.
Tariff is good idea! We need to bring jobs that was stolen from Americans through unknown sources or politicians who want get rich idea!
The Democrats have nothing to say about how to run the country. During Obama’s destruction we had the biggest crash in history. And in 4 years Biden utterly destroyed the country with his idiocy. So Democrats keep your mouth shut and learn something.
I think that it is okay for both Republicans & Democrats to change their thinking on issues such as tariffs, as the world has changed a lot in the last 20-years. I remember an article in WSJ around 2000 that predicted where China would be in 20 years & they were right. The worst people are the ones who will never admit they are wrong & are not willing to change their mind on issues.
Progressive/socialists seem to be inflicted with amnesia on so, so, many things political-wise.
President Trump simplified his approach to the tariffs plan to get the ball rolling. That is more than prior administrations have even attempted. He already has deal offers lined up and that is the point. Apparently one sided trade is the desire of the LEFT and Wall Street. The naysayers quibble over math and methods, yet not one lifted a muscle in the past decades. Lip service does not count!
Further, President emphasizes returning the US manufacturing industry and solid jobs for middle class recovery. That alone is totally dissed by the naysayers. An effort to recover trade balance and self sufficiently should be attended by loud cheers and support. Details can be tweaked but naysayer is falling on deaf ears for the middle class. The left will continue to fuel wealth for their super rich doners and crumbs to their useful dependents.
The worst by far is the Democrat who called Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” because Navarro is defending the tariffs.
I don’t want to name this vile Democrat but you can probably figure out their name.
The lying , cheating ,stealing , Dumbacraps are all for something till they find out they can make a profit .
At this point, Trump could cure Cancer and the dems would condemn him for it.
T.D.S. plain and simple.
Democrats are no good pieces of crap and enemies of America!
They are bunch of hypocrisy and also they do not like Trump either which make things worse.
^ Paid Chinese commenter who hates God ^
^ See! I told you it was a paid Chinese commenter. Talks about Trump hating the first amendment, in the face of Trump and the right, who faced the BIGGEST THREAT TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN OUR LIFETIMES.
Hey, Wong. When you look out of your window in Beijing, do you see those jump nets? Try giving them a run?
^ Paid Chinese commenter. Gets one grain of rice per word.
Since you are only a child, I would recommend you not punch him, as you would get your clock completely cleaned. Only immature keyboard warriors talk about tossing haymakers. We seen what they look like when they get busted burning Tesla’s. Bawling like a cheap baby on their mugshots. Little micro-wienered, soy boys.
Just when I think nobody could ever post something so stupid….
You spelled Fort Worth wrong.
If the intended point of this article is that Trump is as stupid as most Democrats on tariffs, you accomplished your goal.
Sure looking forward to buying goods made by overpaid, Democrat supporting, union members.Maybe paying 3 times more for goods will make me a better person.
No one said tariffs can’t be a useful tool, when used judiciously. But trying to repeat the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act with tariffs on everyone, including penguins, without rhyme or reason, harms the US consumer with essentially an one of the largest tax increases in US history, sets in motion trade wars that no one can win, and threatens to harm not just our economy, but the world’s. More than $6 trillion lost in the US stock market alone these last few days. It also harms US relations and casts doubts for investors in the US for years to come. Trump supporter and billionaire hedge funder Phil Ackman: “By placing massive and disproportionate tariffs on our friends and our enemies alike and thereby launching a global economic war against the whole world at once, we are in the process of destroying confidence in our country as a trading partner, as a place to do business, and as a market to invest capital.”
The big loser in all this tariff business is the consumer. Sure, the government may be raking in money from the tariffs, but effectively, it is a massive tax increase on those paying for the goods.
Many of the voices are “we are going to do to them what they are doing to us” — this sounds very childish.
I understand that there may be some vital industries that we need to be protect, and that is a compelling reason for such protectionism.
But if, for example, Thailand can make children’s toys cheaper that meet our safety standards, what’s wrong with that?
Even stupid republican can figure out its a stupid move …..