¶ Overview
Schweikert voted five times to protect Trump’s tariffs, including in April when he was the deciding vote to protect the tariffs from being repealed by Congress, dooming Arizonans who relied on him to a trade war and rising prices. Tariffs are contributing to higher food prices, are hurting Arizona businesses and farmers, and could increase car insurance rates.
Despite having previously expressed skepticism about Trump’s tariffs rollouts, Schweikert later claimed that the “economy has been remarkably stable” and dismissed the impact the tariffs were having on Arizonans, even though the U.S. stock market crashed due to Trump’s escalating global trade war.
¶ Schweikert Was The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs Despite The Harm They Could Cause To Arizona’s Economy
¶ Schweikert Repeatedly Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
¶ September 2025: Schweikert Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
September 2025: Schweikert Voted Against Terminating The National Emergency That Allowed Trump To Impose A 40 Percent Tariff On Brazil. In September 2025, Schweikert voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, a “motion to table the Meeks, D-N.Y., motion to discharge from the House Foreign Affairs Committee the joint resolution that would terminate the national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on July 30, 2025, which imposed an additional 40 percent tariff on certain goods imported from Brazil.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 200 to 198. [House Vote 265, 9/15/25; Congressional Quarterly, 9/15/25; Congressional Actions, H.J.Res. 117]
September 2025: Schweikert Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through March 2026. In September 2025, Schweikert voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the resolution [that] would allow for the tolling (the pausing of counting) of days for resolutions of inquiry from Sept. 30, 2025 through March 31, 2026. It also would provide that each day during the period from April 9, 2025, through March 31, 2026. would not constitute a calendar day for the purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's April 2, 2025 executive order declaring a national emergency regarding tariffs on imported goods. The resolution also would provide that during the period for March 11, 2025 through March 31, 2026, would not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency executive order declared by President Trump on Feb. 1, 2025. Such an executive order concerned tariffs on many Canadian and Mexican imports and Chinese goods. The resolution also would provide that the provisions of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act would not apply through March 31, 2026 to a joint resolution terminating the national emergency.” The vote was on the rule. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 213 to 211. [House Vote 268, 9/16/25; Congressional Quarterly, 9/16/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 707; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Support Was Won From GOP Holdouts Through A Promise Of A Vote Later In The Week To Shorten The Block To End In January Rather Than March. According to Politico, “GOP leaders flipped several of the Republican holdouts with a promise to add language shortening the block on tariff disapproval votes to a forthcoming measure set for approval later in the week, per two Republicans with direct knowledge of the agreement. The expiration date on the block will be reset from March 31 to the end of January, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday. It’s likely the Supreme Court will have ruled on a challenge to Trump’s tariff-declaring powers by then.” [Politico, 9/16/25]
¶ April 2025: Schweikert Cast The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
April 2025: Schweikert Cast The Deciding Vote For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In March 2025, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the “adoption of the rule (H Res 313) that would provide for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the rule. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 budget resolution. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 216 to 215. [House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Speaker Johnson Backed The Move, Claiming Trump Had “Executive Authority” And That The Tariffs Were “In The Interest Of The American People.” According to ABC News, “House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the move, telling reporters, ‘I've made it very clear I think the president has executive authority. It's an appropriate level of authority to deal with the unfair trade practices. That's part of the role of the president is to negotiate with other countries.’ Johnson said Trump told him Tuesday night that ‘there are almost 70 countries that are [in] some stage in negotiation of more fair-trade agreement agreements with the United States. I think that is in the interest of the American people. I think that is an ‘America First’ policy that will be effective, and so we have to give them the space to do it.’” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
- The Vote Was The Second Use Of The Procedural Tactic To Block Votes On The Tariffs, The First Use Of It Being In March 2025. According to ABC News, “House Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., moved to force a vote on Tuesday on terminating the national emergency authority and blocking Trump's sweeping tariffs. Now, that vote is unlikely to occur. This is the second time Johnson has moved to stop the legislative calendar to prevent votes on Trump's authority on tariffs. Under House rules, these votes would typically come up within 15 calendar days but now will not if the ‘rule’ passes during the vote series Wednesday afternoon.” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
¶ If One “Aye” Vote Had Switched To A “No” On House Vote 94, The Measure Would Have Failed Instead Of Passing
The Measure Considered In House Vote 94 Passed By A Vote Of 216 “Ayes” To 215 “Nos,” Which Meant If One Aye Vote Had Switched To A No Vote, The Measure Would Have Failed.
[House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
¶ April 2025: Schweikert Effectively Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
April 2025: Schweikert Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In March 2025, Schweikert voted for, “motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 313) that would providing for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the previous question. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 217 to 212. [House Vote 93, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313]
¶ March 2025: Schweikert Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
March 2025: Schweikert Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs. In March 2025, Schweikert voted for, “the bill that would provide for Congressional disapproval of, and nullify, a December 2024 IRS rule related to gross proceeds reporting by brokers involved in digital asset sales. The rule imposed reporting requirements, beginning in 2027, on non-custodial barkers who participate in the decentralized digital asset market. It also required brokers to file information returns and provide payee statements reporting gross proceeds from certain digital asset sales and transactions.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 292 to 132. [House Vote 71, 3/11/25; Congressional Quarterly, 3/11/25; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 25]
- The Bill Effectively Blocked The House From Voting To Reverse Trump’s Tariffs On Mexico, Canada, And China For The Next Year. According to the New York Times, “Republican leaders on Tuesday slipped language into a procedural measure that would prevent any resolution to end the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China from receiving a vote this year. It passed on party lines as part of a resolution that cleared the way for a vote later Tuesday on a government spending bill needed to prevent a shutdown at the end of the week.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The Bill Nullified A Law That Would Allow The House And Senate To End A Disaster Declared By The President. According to the New York Times, “In this case, Republican leaders did so using a particularly unusual contortion: They essentially declared the rest of the year one long day, nullifying a law that allows the House and Senate to jointly put an end to a disaster declared by the president.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The National Emergencies Act Required Consideration Of Resolutions Ending A Presidentially Declared Emergency Within Fifteen Calendar Days But Republican Leadership Included A Measure In The Bill Declaring The Rest Of The Year Did Not Constitute A Calendar Day. According to the New York Times, “The national emergency law lays out a fast-track process for Congress to consider a resolution ending a presidential emergency, requiring committee consideration within 15 calendar days after one is introduced and a floor vote within three days after that. But the language House Republicans inserted in their measure on Tuesday declared that, ‘Each day for the remainder of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day’ for the purposes of the emergency that Mr. Trump declared on Feb. 1.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
¶ Despite Trump’s Tariffs, Schweikert Claimed The Economy Was “Remarkably Stable,” Even Though The U.S. Stock Market Crashed
Schweikert: “The Economy Has Actually Been Remarkably Stable. You Know The People A Few Months Ago, Hey, The Tariffs Are Going To Blow Up The World. Turns Out It's Not. That Hasn't Happened.” According to an interview Rep. David Schweikert gave on Wake Up Live, “HOST: Tell me about what are you seeing as a guy, you know, in relation to the market, some of the some of the indicators that have come out, PPI and all. Give me a, give me a Schweikert state of the market and the economy right now. What are… SCHWEIKERT: There's actually one number. It worries me a little bit. The economy has actually been remarkably stable. You know the people a few months ago, hey, the tariffs are going to blow up the world. Turns out it's not. That hasn't happened.” [Wake Up Live, 8/21/25] (VIDEO)
April 2-4, 2025: The U.S. Stock Market Crashed As Trump’s Tariffs “Escalated A Global Trade War And Wiped Out Trillions Of Dollars In Value.” According to NPR, “Wall Street plummeted for a second straight day on Friday, as President Trump's tariffs escalated a global trade war and wiped out trillions of dollars in value from the U.S. stock market. The two-day selloff served as the financial community's most brutal warning yet about the potential fallout of Trump's trade policy. Investors, businesses, and consumers are all expressing mounting terror about how these sweeping new taxes could upend the global economy.” [NPR, 4/4/25]
¶ Schweikert Had Previously Expressed Skepticism About Trump’s Tariffs Rollouts
April 2025: Schweikert Questioned Trump’s Tariff Plan, Saying The Goal Was “Laudable” But Adding “The Steps To Get There Have A Lot Of Complexity.” According to the Arizona Republic, “U.S. Rep. David Schweikert has started to question President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy. In a half-hour-long interview with The Arizona Republic, Schweikert, R-Ariz., wondered aloud about the purpose of Trump’s on-and-off plans to impose sweeping tariffs, said the recent reforms ‘brought to the surface’ longer-term stressors in debt markets, and questioned whether the president’s approach would succeed in reviving U.S. manufacturing. ‘The goal may be laudable, but the steps to get there have a lot of complexity,’ said Schweikert, whose district includes upscale Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills.” [Arizona Republic, 4/17/25]
October 2024: Schweikert Expressed Skepticism About Trump’s Tariff Plan. According to Business Insider, “He's not a fan of Trump's tariff plans — ‘I think tariffs create great distortions in markets’ — and he's skeptical of the former president's proposal to exempt tips from taxation. ‘I can make it work,’ he says. ‘My fear is the traps you have to run to avoid scamming.’ Schweikert is also bullish on the idea that a second Trump administration, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, would have ‘enough adults’ around to avoid the mistakes of last time, and that people who are ‘ideological, but not professional’ would not be appointed to important positions.” [Business Insider, 10/22/24]
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Were Hurting Small Businesses And Families In Arizona
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Were Expected To Raise Grocery Prices And Cause Job Losses
HEADLINE: “Grocery Inflation Highest Since 2022 As Trump Tariffs Pile Up” [Axios, 9/16/25]
HEADLINE: “Car Insurance Rates Could Rise With Tariffs” [Axios, 8/7/25]
Trump’s Tariffs Were Expected To Raise The Price Of Tomatoes And Cause Job Losses In Arizona. According to the Arizona Republic, “Consumers can expect grocery store prices for tomatoes to rise in the coming months after the Trump administration imposed new 17% duties on tomatoes imported from Mexico, according to trade advocates. The new tariffs also are expected to deal a financial blow to Arizona's multibillion-dollar tomato import industry that could result in job losses and profit declines that will ripple through the broader economy, trade advocates and importers say. The new duties are aimed at preventing Mexican tomato growers from ‘dumping’ lower cost tomatoes on the U.S. market and providing a boost to U.S. tomato growers, especially in Florida, where tomato growers have long complained about tomato dumping from Mexico.” [Arizona Republic, 7/21/25]
2025: The Peterson Institute For International Economics Estimated Trump’s Proposed 25% Tariff On Nearly All Imports From Mexico And Canada Would Increase Costs About $1,200 Annually Per Household And Impact Arizona’s Trading Relationship With Mexico. According to KJZZ, “Trump announced a 25% tariff on nearly all imports from Mexico and Canada – the nation’s top trading partners, and also Arizona’s – on Feb. 1, with a 10% tariff on Canadian oil, gas and electricity. He immediately put the tariffs on hold until March 4, using the threat as leverage to win concessions on border security. Both have threatened retaliatory tariffs. So Arizona consumers would face higher prices on imports even as demand for Arizona’s exports drops. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that Trump’s tariffs would cost the average U.S. household $1,200 per year. Mexico is the biggest customer for Arizona exports – $8 billion worth in 2023, according to census data. Mexico buys copper, electronics, aircraft, engines and parts from Arizona and sells tomatoes, electronic components for autos, peppers, grapes and other produce.” [KJZZ, 3/1/25]
2025: Timothy Richards, The Morrison Chair Of Agribusiness At Arizona State University, Estimated Trump’s Proposed 25% Tariffs On Canadian And Mexican Imported Goods Would Likely Increase The Prices Of Produce Up To 25%. According to AZ Central, “President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico will officially go into effect on Tuesday. Tariffs, a tax on goods exchanged between countries, are paid by the importer in the U.S., who then tends to pass on all or some of the cost to consumers, said Timothy Richards, the Morrison chair of agribusiness at Arizona State University. The tariffs were announced in January and then paused in February. Now that they are starting on Tuesday, Arizona shoppers can expect to see price increases at grocery stores as a result. Here are the products most likely to cost more because of the tariffs, plus how beer will be impacted and what the U.S. imports from Canada and Mexico. How will Trump's tariffs affect Arizona grocery prices? It is uncertain how much of the increased cost importers will pass on to consumers across all the different impacted industries. But Richards anticipated the price of produce will increase close to the full 25%.” [AZ Central, 3/4/25]
2025: China Had Stopped Buying U.S. Alfalfa To Feed Their Cattle As A Result Of Trump’s Trade War, Instead Going To Countries In Africa And Europe. According to ABC 15, “In the Harquahala Valley, hay fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Alfalfa hay is mainly used as feed for cattle and is big business in Arizona, with Arizona farms exporting over $100 million of alfalfa overseas a year. Shannon Schulz has been farming in the Harquahala Valley for decades. Business is slow because Chinese dairy farms have all but stopped buying U.S. alfalfa to feed their cattle after the country imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports. China makes up about half of Arizona's alfalfa export market. ‘With the current tariffs in place, which is in total about 66% from China to us, it puts our product out of the marketplace,’ Schulz said. Schulz says that now Chinese farms are buying from other countries in Africa and Europe. For the alfalfa now growing in Arizona’s fields, by the time it's ready to be harvested, there may not be a customer to buy it. Losing about half of his business overnight has not been easy. ‘It could break us,’ Schulz said. ‘It could break a lot of farmers.’” [ABC 15, 4/18/25]
¶ Small Business Owners Were Concerned About Trump’s Tariffs Forcing Them To Raise Their Prices
2025: Erica Campbell, Small Business Owner Of “Be A Heart,” Said She Was Concerned Trump’s Proposed Tariffs Would Impact Her Profit Margins And Force Her To Increase Prices. According to ABC 15 Arizona, “In the Valley, full-time mom of three kids, and full-time small business owner Erica Campbell says she doesn't have the time to be patient with tariff negotiations. She owns ‘Be a Heart’, an e-commerce business selling catholic themed gifts and products, which are all made in China. Proposed tariffs will eat into her profit margins, causing her to have to raise prices. ‘Right now this $40 night light would need to sell for $62,’ Campbell said. Campbell says her family relies on the income from her business and she is very nervous about what the next few weeks and months will look like.” [ABC 15 Arizona, 4/6/25]
- Campbell Noted There Were Not Enough Manufacturers In The U.S. To Make Her Products Domestically, Arguing It Would Take About Four Years Or More To Build Domestic Factories That Already Exist In China. According to ABC 15 Arizona, “The Trump Administration wants to use tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but Campbell says there isn't enough manufacturing power here in the U.S. now for her to make her products here. ‘It will probably take four years or more to build factories to make these products, which China has really perfected,’ Campbell said. Which is too long she says for her and many others if rising prices, and a recession, hit the U.S. economy because of the tariffs. ‘I don’t know if by the time he figures it out many of us will still be here,’ Campbell said.” [ABC 15 Arizona, 4/6/25]
2025: Phoenix Toy Store Owner Said Trump’s Tariffs Would Result In Higher Prices. According to AZ Family, “President Donald Trump told American parents this week that their kids might have to live with fewer toys. Most toys are made in China, and the new tariffs will make them more expensive and less available in stores. A Valley toy store said it’s already feeling the impact. Wildlings Toy Boutique in Phoenix says the summer is typically a slow season for them, so they don’t usually stock the store. However, with 80% of toys produced in China, the owner said she’s been buying toys to create a back-stock of inventory. Wildlings Toy Boutique is straight out of owner Jenn Mawcinitt’s imagination. ‘Purposeful play was the mission here. So everything here has a purpose,’ she said. For five years, it’s been her safe haven, and she describes it as one of the best things she’s created. Last month, however, when the Trump administration announced 145% tariffs on items coming from China, her business became a point of stress. ‘Ultimately, toy manufacturers and toy store owners don’t operate on margins that would allow us to absorb those costs. We’re going to have to pass it on to our customers, and that is really hard to say,’ Mawcinitt said.” [AZ Family, 5/2/25]