Transcript: Sen. John Barrasso on
The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen. John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on April 6, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by one of many high Republicans within the Senate, Wyoming’s John Barrasso, the whip. Good to have you ever right here in particular person Senator.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Thanks. Nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So I need to ask you about what the Secretary simply laid out. He didn’t describe this as leverage to get to a deal. He mentioned this, take them actually. The tariffs are right here to remain. We have already seen some conservative teams, just like the New Civil Liberties Alliance, file swimsuit saying that these are usually not on strong constitutional and authorized floor. Do you assume the president’s on strong authorized floor?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, I feel he’s. However that is a few monumental change within the path of our authorities. We’re, and I am speaking about change by way of the dimensions in addition to the priorities, and that is 180 diploma change from what we had for the final 4 years with massive authorities, massive spending, massive taxes, and we’ve got a complete financial plan to get to a powerful, wholesome, rising financial system for the American individuals. That is why we handed what we did simply yesterday within the Senate, as a result of we wish individuals to have more- higher jobs, extra alternatives and more cash in their very own pockets. So by way of the tariffs, I imagine they seem to be a device, and I feel we’ve got to go after China. They’ve been abusing us for years, and I imagine the president is on agency constitutional grounds.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, what- after I hear you speak about form of the one, two punch on the financial plan for the president, tax cuts being one in all them. Is not there some coordination on sequencing right here? As a result of would not you go forward and take away the rules and go forward with the tax cuts earlier than you go to battle with your complete world over commerce?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, the president has been speaking about these tariffs each speech that I used to be with him through the through the marketing campaign. There isn’t a shock right here, he is additionally talked about ensuring we do not have this $4 trillion tax improve that the Democrats need to have. We have now lots of work to do to reverse the injury that is been executed over the past 4 years with with the Democrats that led to the very best inflation in 40 years. So the president needs to get lots of issues executed, and I need to get lots of issues executed in Congress as a part of this complete financial plan.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am certain you noticed the Fed chair additionally say that we could also be going through inflation now partially due to these tariffs. You understand, some within the Senate are very involved about having extra management and say over commerce. Maria Cantwell, a senator who shall be with us later on this program partnered with Chuck Grassley, probably the most highly effective Republicans, with this invoice to attempt to claw again management. They need 48 hours discover on tariffs. Suggests they did not get a lot this time, they usually need them to run out after 60 days, except Congress approves of them. Will management let this effort advance?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, Senator Grassley is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, however let me simply say the president is on agency authorized grounds right here. During the last 90 years, Congress has given the president’s totally different presidents increasingly authority to cope with nationwide safety points, with regard to tariffs, to make use of tariffs with regard to unfair commerce. So the president has the authority. I feel that is much like the invoice that Chuck Grassley launched about 5 years in the past. That they had debate then, most of the co-sponsors are the identical. It will get a radical listening to, after which we’ll see the place it goes from there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you assume, although, that Congress must have extra of a say on commerce points?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, the Structure says Congress has your complete say, however over the past 90 years–
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is not the way in which it is enjoying out now–
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: –more and extra authority have been given to the president to have the ability to be extra nimble to react by way of nationwide safety, by way of unfair commerce. And I feel President Trump is doing what he has each proper to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However it sounds such as you’re open to creating that extra clear on what the boundaries must be.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, there will be a dialogue within the Senate. We’ll see which method the dialogue goes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You talked about the work that bought executed over the weekend. You probably did take this step ahead in advancing the president’s tax agenda and elevating the debt ceiling with this funds framework, you understand what a combat you are going to have with fellow Republicans over it in the home. Jodey Arrington, the funds chairman, referred to as it unserious and disappointing. Accused your Republican colleagues of making 6 trillion in new prices and a mere 4 billion in enforceable cuts. Is that this headed for failure in the home?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: No, we’re united in what we imagine by way of ensuring we’ve got a nation that’s protected and affluent. The Speaker of the Home and the management of the Home got here out and endorsed what we’ve got executed, and mentioned, hey, we ought to maneuver forward and take that subsequent step–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –5 Republicans have come out towards it–
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: — so what we’ve got seen–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –that’s a reasonably slim margin.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: However- however all of them agree with what we need to do, which is unleash American power to get power costs down for individuals. All of them agree that we should ensure that we do not have these $4 trillion tax will increase. All of them need to be sure that we safe the border. So the entire components of what we’ve got listed here are a part of what we need to have executed. Now I am the whip. My job is to rely votes. We’d like 51 within the Senate. They want 218 in the home. We have now to iron out the variations. We’re dedicated to getting it executed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, we all know they’re quick about 5 votes proper now. So it feels like if you must take one other chunk on the apple, the rationale that this issues a lot is procedurally, you have to clear the way in which for all these massive stuff you need to get, executed, just like the tax cuts by September. Speaker Johnson mentioned he needs it executed by Might. Senator Lankford mentioned it has to get executed by August. Does all of the instability pace issues up for you?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, I am not apprehensive about deadlines. I need to get- I’ve an urgency to get it executed as quickly as we will, so we will get these insurance policies in place and likewise to offer the knowledge to people who find themselves apprehensive, are my taxes going to go up on the finish of the 12 months? They need to have the arrogance that they are not going to go up. I feel the extra certainty we will present to the to the oldsters across the nation that they may see that we have- on the best path for a powerful, wholesome, rising financial system, and we need to get the nation again on monitor, and the earlier we will get this handed, the earlier we will reverse the injury the Democrats have executed over the past 4 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You bought to get speaker Johnson to wrangle these votes although, which you admit they are not there proper now.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, we will put the language collectively. We do should iron out the variations, and I am dedicated to getting it executed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So in about 18 months, Congress will face elections, these midterm races. Here is your fellow Republican, Senator Rand Paul.
SEN. RAND PAUL: Traditionally, tariffs have additionally led to political decimation. When McKinley, most famously put tariffs on in 1890 they misplaced 50% of their seats within the subsequent election, however Hawt-Smooley placed on their tariff within the early Nineteen Thirties we misplaced the Home and the Senate for 60 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN 6:22
Are you afraid historical past goes to repeat itself in 2026?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, no, I am not. There is a good distance between now and the 2026 elections. President Trump gained primarily based on two issues that the Democrats have been the social gathering of excessive costs and an open border. Nobody doubted president Trump’s skill to get the border closed and 137,000 unlawful immigrants in March of final 12 months, Biden this previous a lot right down to 7000 so he has been ready to do this. Republicans are going to be judged on the financial system, which is why I am not
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the Fed’s chairman is saying inflation goes to probably go up and there is nice uncertainty.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: That is why I need to get this complete financial plan in place as quickly as doable. The knowledge that the tax will increase are usually not going to be there, the knowledge that we’ve got American power and people jobs, the knowledge we’re bringing jobs again into the nation, all of these issues are going to ensure that by the election, 18 months from now, that individuals say, yeah, we’re on the best path. Republicans have gotten the nation again. Nation is again on monitor proper now from I feel it is even your individual CBS ballot by way of proper monitor, mistaken monitor, proper path, mistaken path. We’re on the highest we have been in 20 years, by way of the path the nation is heading.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that was pre tariffs. Senator Ted Cruz mentioned this,
TED CRUZ: Tariffs are a tax on customers, and I am not a fan of jacking up taxes on American customers, so my hope is these tariffs are quick lived, they usually function leverage to decrease tariffs throughout the globe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s lots of concern, together with out of your your outdated buddy Mitch McConnell. When do you get involved that that is going to harm the financial story you are attempting to inform?
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO: Effectively, you will not be shocked. Ted and I have been on the ground simply two within the morning. I mentioned, you understand, I guess Margaret’s going to indicate that tape of what you simply mentioned about tariffs, and we joked about it a little bit bit. However there may be concern, and there is concern throughout the nation. Individuals are watching the markets. This isn’t a shock. Individuals are involved about this. 40k- 401ks, retirement plans. They do the perfect when we’ve got confidence sooner or later, when we’ve got a powerful, wholesome, rising financial system. And that is why we’ve got a complete financial plan to cope with all of this, to creating certain the taxes do not go up, to chop a lot of this reckless Washington spending, individuals noticed the listing of all of the horrible issues we have been spending cash on the final 4 years, and other people have been offended and offended at that. What we’re doing can also be chopping lots of this reckless Washington spending provides individuals more cash in their very own pockets.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Markets transfer loads sooner than Congress does, Senator. So you’ve got bought your work lower out for you, however we admire you laying out the small print for us.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO:Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
