Former Vice President Mike Pence has slammed President Trump’s sweeping tariff policy as a “massive misstep” that will soon shock American consumers with higher prices and product shortages.
Pence, who received the Profile in Courage award for his actions on January 6, warned that Trump’s controversial trade approach marks the second-worst economic start for any administration since Richard Nixon.
In a blistering critique of his former boss’s economic policies, Pence called for Trump to reverse course on his “liberation day” tariffs that have already triggered market turmoil.
“The cause? A massive policy misstep in the form of sweeping tariffs imposed on friend and foe alike. Since the president announced his ‘liberation day’ tariffs, the only thing America has been liberated from is trillions of dollars in investments.” Pence said.
The former vice president did not mince words when speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, describing the sweeping tariffs against both allies and adversaries as the “largest peacetime tax hike in American history.”
Economic indicators support Pence’s concerns. The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, the first downturn in three years.
Pence warned that American consumers will soon feel the pain of these policies at checkout counters nationwide.
“Economic warning signs are flashing,” Pence cautioned, suggesting that the resulting price increases and product shortages will lead voters to “demand a different approach” from the White House.
This starkly contrasts with Trump’s assertion that tariffs are “making us very rich” and will show results “sooner than most people think.”
While acknowledging Trump’s “political comeback unrivaled in modern American history,” Pence urged a return to traditional Republican economic principles.
He advocated for targeted tariffs against adversaries like China while maintaining free trade with Democrat allies—a more nuanced approach than Trump’s across-the-board policy.
Pence also called for extending the Trump-era tax cuts from his vice presidency, cautioning that failing to do so would trigger a significant middle-class tax hike at the worst possible time.
Additionally, the trade dispute represents just one area where the former running mates have diverged since their falling out after the 2020 election.
Pence, who recently received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for his actions on January 6, openly criticized Trump’s decision to pardon individuals involved in the Capitol riot.
“I was deeply disappointed to see President Trump pardon people that engaged in violence against law enforcement officers that day,” Pence stated, arguing that it sent “the wrong message” about respecting law enforcement.
Foreign policy has emerged as another significant point of contention between the former administration partners.
Pence warned that Trump’s wavering support for Ukraine has only emboldened Russian aggression and contradicted America’s traditional leadership role on the world stage.
Similarly, while Pence praised Trump’s strong stance in the Middle East, he expressed concern about direct talks with Iran regarding their nuclear ambitions, seeing it as a potential misstep that could legitimize the regime.
“President Trump deserves credit for an energetic and effective start. His instincts on security, strength and sovereignty are as sharp as ever…” Pence remarked.
“…But if we want to see this nation become truly great again, we can’t exchange time-tested conservative principles for populist platitudes,” he added.
Despite their differences, Pence did commend Trump on several fronts, particularly his efforts to control illegal immigration.
However, even here, the former vice president emphasized the importance of due process for all individuals in the United States, suggesting a more measured approach than some of Trump’s more aggressive immigration policies.
Pence’s outcry reflects a significant philosophical divide within the Republican ranks as America navigates domestic and global challenges.
As the nation watches these internal conflicts unfold, the call for leaders to adhere to principles that preserve economic stability grows stronger.
