Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley is writing Trump a letter objecting to his destructive trade war — even though Trump notoriously doesn't read.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) claims to be upset about how badly farmers in his state are being hurt by Trump's reckless trade war. But instead of taking real action to oppose Trump, all Grassley can seem to manage is a strongly worded letter.
Grassley told the Washington Post in a Tuesday report that he's planning to write Trump a letter explaining the concerns Iowans have about his trade policies.
Why a letter? "I’m not sure if you talk to him face to face he hears everything you say," Grassley told the Post.
Of course, it's common knowledge that Trump doesn't read. In order to get him to pay attention to important briefings, White House staffers have resorted to putting pictures in his briefing books, or getting people to voice their concerns on his favorite propaganda outlet, Fox News.
A more effective strategy for Grassley might be rallying other Republican lawmakers to pass legislation that would stop the tariffs. But — just like all of his fellow Republican senators — Grassley shows no sign of being willing to cross Trump in order to do so.
Republicans have long opposed the idea of tariffs in general. But now that Trump has decided tariffs are good policy, Republicans are rolling over and letting Trump implement his reckless taxes on all American consumers — choosing to stay on Trump's good side rather than stand up for whatever principles the GOP once had.
The few Republicans who are "standing up" to Trump, like Grassley, are doing so in such a meek and feeble manner that their efforts are unlikely to change much of anything.
