Koch says Trump’s tariffs hurt Americans
Leaders of influential political network label trade policy “protectionism”
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo – In some of their sharpest criticism of the Trump administration, leaders of the influential political network associated with conservative billionaire Charles Koch slammed President Trump’s trade tariffs Saturday as “protectionism” that hurts American businesses and consumers.
“The divisiveness of this White House is causing long-term damage,” said Brian Hooks, one of Koch’s top deputies. “When in order to win on an issue, somebody else has to lose, it makes it very difficult to unite people to solve the problems of this country.”
Koch and more than 500 donors in his network held a retreat this weekend to plot the network’s course on everything from its growing support of anti-poverty programs around the country to the tough midterm elections in which Republican control of the House of Representatives is in jeopardy. The network is likely to spend as much as $400 million on politics and policy in this two-year election cycle, further cementing its role as one of the most powerful forces in conservative politics.
The network, whose donors commit to giving at least $100,000 a year to the group’s top causes, has traditionally backed Republican candidates in an effort to spread a free-market message to all corners of American society.
Network leaders, however, have expressed growing frustration with what they view as runaway government spending, the administration’s hardline policies on immigration and Trump’s tariff battles with China, Mexico and other countries.
They are increasingly signaling a willingness to work with Democrats as Election Day approaches, touting their efforts across the political divide on issues such as criminal justice.
In a video address shown to reporters Saturday, Charles Koch warned that acting “in protectionist ways” erects “barriers which make everyone worse off.”
Some Koch aides were more pointed, slamming Trump’s decision last week to use a program from the Great Depression to pay up to $12 billion to aid U.S. farmers hurt by the administration’s trade disputes with China and other countries.
Given China’s history of buying U.S. Treasury securities, Chinese money could help fund the farm bailout if borrowing is required.
“It’s a bailout of bad policy,” network spokesman James Davis said.
“You can’t make this up,” he said. “We put tariffs supposedly to put pressure on China. Then, it actually hurts farmers here. Crops waste away in the field, and then you pull a Depressionera program out to bail out farmers, but who’s underwriting our debt?”
The network has found common cause with other parts of the administration agenda, spending $20 million to advance the package of tax cuts Trump signed last year. It will spend heavily to help win Senate confirmation of Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
The summer gathering, held at the luxurious Broadmoor Hotel, also focused on network goals outside politics, from boosting what members view as diverse viewpoints on college campuses to investing in anti-poverty programs.
Stand Together, a fast-growing arm of the network, supplies money and management advice to 86 nonprofit groups around the country. The group, which started a little more than two years ago, plans to invest $40 million in organizations this year.
One of the beneficiaries: Cafe Momentum, a Dallas nonprofit restaurant that provides internships to teens released from Dallas County Juvenile Detention facilities. Youngsters who work at Cafe Momentum operated a pop-up restaurant at the retreat.