President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday — a move he dubbed “Liberation Day” — has drawn sharp criticism from an unlikely voice: former Vice President Mike Pence. While the administration frames the tariffs as a bold return to economic nationalism, Pence is warning they may carry serious costs for American families and threaten the conservative economic agenda heading into 2026.
Trump’s latest tariff initiative represents a significant escalation of his prior trade policy. According to the White House, the tariffs are aimed at protecting U.S. industry from foreign manipulation, particularly from nations that continue to flood American markets with subsidized goods. Trump characterized the announcement as a strike against “economic globalism” and emphasized that the U.S. will no longer tolerate unfair trade practices that undermine domestic manufacturing.
While specific product categories and countries were not listed in the full announcement, sources familiar with the plan say the tariffs are broad-based, with particular focus on autos, steel, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.
The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year. Check Out“Spoiling America’s Golden Age”@AmericanFreedom 👇 pic.twitter.com/2NghyDc8c1
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 2, 2025
Within hours of the announcement, Pence responded on social media with strong opposition, calling the tariffs the “largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history.” He argued that the new duties are nearly ten times larger than those implemented during the Trump-Pence administration and warned that middle-class families will bear the brunt.
In his statement, Pence shared a document titled “Spoiling America’s Golden Age,” which outlines potential economic consequences of the new policy. According to the document:
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Median American families, earning roughly $101,000 annually, could face a $3,500 annual cost increase.
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Trump’s former trade adviser, Peter Navarro, estimates the tariffs could reach $600 billion annually, equivalent to a $7,000 burden per family.
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High-cost purchases like homes and vehicles could become $7,000 more expensive, eroding years of household savings.
Pence’s message also warned that these measures could kill jobs and destabilize the economy through price uncertainty, particularly in sectors that rely on imported components or raw materials.
Pence’s concern extends beyond economics. He cautioned that the tariffs could alienate swing voters and jeopardize the Republican majority by replicating the inflationary effects seen during the Biden administration. His message suggests a brewing rift within the conservative movement over how to balance economic protectionism with free market principles.
The response from the White House was muted, though sources close to Trump dismissed Pence’s comments as “predictable criticism from an establishment figure out of step with the current political climate.”
