1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to ask a very straightforward question: Do you understand how tariffs actually work? Tariffs are taxes—paid by American consumers and American businesses. They are not paid by foreign governments. They are not paid by foreign companies. Every credible economist has explained this repeatedly, and yet the policies enacted under President Trump, and supported by many in Congress, suggest a deliberate refusal to acknowledge this basic economic reality. Now the consequences are coming due. The federal government is preparing to bail out American farmers to the tune of $12 billion because Trump’s tariffs created predictable retaliation that devastated U.S. agricultural exports. Economists around the world warned that this would happen. Farmers warned that this would happen. Yet the tariffs were imposed anyway, and now taxpayers are being forced to clean up the damage. Let me be very clear: Americans are already paying higher prices at the store because of the tariffs. And now, American tax dollars are being used to bail out farmers harmed by those same tariffs. Which means that ordinary Americans are paying for Trump’s misguided economic policies twice—once at the checkout counter, and again through the IRS. This is not sound economic strategy. It is not a “tough on China” stance. It is simply bad policy that taxes Americans multiple times while pretending to help them. So I am asking you directly: Do you understand that tariffs function as a tax on Americans, not foreign countries? Do you support using taxpayer money to bail out farmers from damage caused by policies you and your party helped implement? What is your plan to protect American families and small businesses from the ongoing financial harm these tariffs are causing? I hope you will respond with clarity, not vague talking points. The people in our district deserve honesty about how these policies work and why we are all being forced to pay for their consequences. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your explanation.