Rand Paul Trying to Rally GOP Opposition to Trump’s Tariffs
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SenateRepublicanshadgatheredforoneoftheirregularprivateluncheslastWednesdaywhenRandPaulcommandedtheirattention.AsSenatorssippeddietsodasandgrazedonsandwiches,theKentuckylawmakerwentthroughaslidedeckwithchartsandstatisticsinserviceofaboldproposal:comeoutagainstPresidentTrump’stariffs.
TheargumentsinPaul’spresentation,whichhasnotbeenpreviouslyreported,werenotasurprisetohisaudience.OneofthemostprominentlibertariansonCapitolHill,he’safierceproponentoffreetrade.ButhisattempttocorralcolleaguesagainsttheTrumptradeagendawasseenasaprovocationtothePresident’scloseallies.“Thepublicfeelslikefreetradehassoldusout,”Paulsaid,accordingtotwoSenatorswhowerepresent,“butAmericansarericherbecauseofit.”Claimingthatfreetradeagreementshavespurredupwardsocialmobility,oneofhisslidesassertedthatthemiddleclasshasshrunkinrecentyearsonlybecausemorepeoplehadmovedintotheupperclass.
“Basically,hewassayingthateveryonewasgettingricherduring