Empire State Today

Rep. Jerry Nadler, a long-serving member of the U.S. Congress representing New York’s 12th district, has been vocal about his opposition to tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. Through a series of tweets, Rep. Nadler expressed concerns about the economic impact of these tariffs on American families and small businesses.

On February 2, 2025, Rep. Nadler highlighted that even the conservative Wall Street Journal Editorial Board criticized Trump's tariffs for potentially increasing costs for essential goods like groceries, gas, and cars for American families. He urged his colleagues from both political parties to recognize these impacts as well: "Even the conservative WSJ Editorial Board is calling out Trump’s reckless tariffs that will drive up the price of groceries, gas, cars, and more for American families."

Later on the same day, he further elaborated on how these tariffs could harm small businesses trading with Mexico, Canada, and China. He accused Trump of using tariff revenue to fund tax cuts benefiting himself and wealthy donors while burdening working Americans with higher costs: "Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs will drive up prices and crush small businesses that trade with Mexico, Canada, and China."

Continuing his critique on February 3, 2025, Rep. Nadler directly addressed Trump in another tweet stating that American citizens do not wish to endure "a little pain" through increased living costs due to these tariffs. He called for an end to what he described as reckless policies affecting hardworking individuals: "No, @realDonaldTrump, the American people don’t want 'a little pain.'"