Pence and Trump aren’t on the best terms. Their relationship is certainly in a tough spot.
And Mike Pence went scorched earth on Donald Trump with this latest critique.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is once again stepping into the policy debate, this time raising concerns about the economic direction under President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda. In a recent appearance on MS NOW’s “Way Too Early,” Pence didn’t hold back when discussing what he sees as the consequences of sweeping trade policies that have rattled markets and businesses alike.
Pence began by acknowledging what he views as a key victory for conservatives: the extension of tax cuts. He credited Republicans in Congress and the administration for ensuring Americans didn’t face higher taxes at a time of economic uncertainty. In his view, that move prevented an already fragile situation from becoming far worse.
“I give Republicans in Congress and the president a great credit for extending those tax cuts in full,” Pence stated.
“I think had they not done that, had those taxes gone up while tariffs were going up, I think our economy would be would be struggling even more than it is today.”
Still, Pence made clear that tax relief alone isn’t enough to offset the turbulence caused by aggressive tariff strategies. While many on the right have long supported tough trade stances against foreign competitors, Pence’s comments highlight a growing divide over how those policies are implemented.
Host Ali Vitali didn’t shy away from pressing the issue, pointing out the current economic climate. “You see the economy that’s struggling right now,” she said, setting the stage for Pence to expand on his concerns.
Pence responded by pointing directly at the administration’s approach to tariffs, particularly those rolled out under what has been dubbed “Liberation Day.” According to him, the uncertainty created by these policies has had a chilling effect on economic stability.
“I think the economy has been impacted by the uncertainty around the president’s broad-based tariffs from Liberation Day,” Pence explained. “Advancing American Freedom was one of the few groups that went into the courts to challenge those policies on constitutional grounds.”
That legal challenge turned out to be more than symbolic. Pence noted that the Supreme Court ultimately sided against the administration’s tariff measures, a decision he welcomed as a win for constitutional governance.
“I was heartened that the Supreme Court of the United States, overturned the president’s Liberation Day tariffs,” he said, emphasizing his belief that the ruling restored proper limits on executive power.
“He was quite critical of that,” Vitali remarked.
Pence acknowledged the tension but stood firm in his interpretation of the Constitution. For him, the issue goes beyond policy disagreements and into the fundamental structure of American government.
“I know he’s not happy about it, but Constitution’s quite clear that taxes originate in the Congress, not by the president,” Pence said, “and that that includes what our Founders called imposts, which are tariffs.”
This argument places Pence in a unique position within the conservative movement. While he remains aligned with many America First principles, he is drawing a line when it comes to executive authority and the separation of powers.
