GOP Sen. Tom Cotton says farmers' tariff 'sacrifices' are nothing compared to the military's
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is here to offer some unsolicited perspective.
The Arkansas senator thinks everyone needs to take a step back and look at the the bigger picture when it comes to President Trump's trade war with China — even if that bigger picture isn't exactly related to the issue at hand.
Sure, Americans — particularly American farmers — will bear the economic brunt of Trump's decision to increase tariffs and China's own retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of imported U.S. goods. But in the grand scheme of things, Cotton says, it's a small price to pay, especially compared to the sacrifices that the men and women in the U.S. military make.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cotton's comparison between American farmers and soldiers seemingly came out of the blue during his interview on CBS This Morning. Though CBS News' Gayle King pointed out that the tariffs really have nothing to do with the military, he made the argument that the farmers he's talked to in Arkansas know that their short-term pain is part of a larger plan to keep America prosperous and secure. He said the farmers look at the military and are "willing to bear some of those sacrifices themselves."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strike
Speed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published