GOP Congressman on Trump Tariffs: ‘Steel Prices Are Up’ but It’s ‘For the Good of the Country’

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) acknowledged that prices were up as a result of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, yet emphasized that it’s “for the good of the country” in a Saturday appearance on Fox Report With Jon Scott.

Host Jon Scott asked the congressman, who recently announced his run for governor, to explain a Fox poll showing only a 55% approval rating for Trump on the economy.

“I think a lot of people are seeing higher prices,” said Norman. “Our family’s in the construction business, and we get a lot of our timber from Canada and other countries. Yes, it’s higher. Steel prices are up, but it’s for the good of the country.”

“Should we expect high prices for a short time? Yes,” he continued. “But overall, we couldn’t keep going the way we were going… That’s why this president is doing such a good job.”

The President’s sweeping tariffs took effect Thursday after months of delays and back-door deals. Most imports into the U.S. will now be subject to a baseline 10% duty, with the overall average effective tariff rate now sitting at more than 17%.

Notably, Norman was one of the few House lawmakers not to endorse Trump in 2024, backing former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley instead.

In his late July announcement of his upcoming gubernatorial bid, however, he praised Trump, predicting “what he did [in Iran] is going to put him in the annals of the greatest presidents we have ever had.”

Watch the clip above via Fox News.