Lindsey Graham Thursday blasted as “mucho sad” President Donald Trump’s consideration of a 20 percent tax on products coming into the United States from Mexico to pay for a wall he authorized Wednesday to end illegal immigration.
The South Carolina Republican issued his social media response to comments Thursday by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer than President Trump is considering a 20 percent import tax to fund additions and strengthening to the border wall along the US-Mexico border.
Spicer told reporters the tax could generate $10 billion annually and easily pay for the wall. He said the president has already discussed the idea with Congressional leaders.
But Graham is apparently concerned about the trade impact. In the first of two tweets, Graham said “border security yes, tariffs no. ” He then mentioned that Mexico is the U.S.’s third largest trading partner, and Mexico country could respond with a tariff of their own, adding that would be a “huge barrier to [economic] growth.”
On the next one, he wrote, “simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad.”
Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad. (2)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 26, 2017
Graham has been an ocassional verbal sparring partner with Trump, including back when Graham was opposing the future president during the GOP presidential primary. However, Graham has been supportive of some of Trump’s policies, and has voted in favor of his cabinet nominees so far.
Agencies/Canadajournal