Adam Kinzinger hits Trump where it hurts him most, proving math is not the president’s friend

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger just lobbed a grenade at Donald Trump, and this one’s packed with numbers.

The target? Trump’s much-hyped tariffs. The result? A trade deficit that, according to Newsweek, is worse than before. So much for “the greatest trade negotiator in history.”

According to Newsweek, the U.S. trade deficit has surged despite Trump’s return to aggressive tariffs on key imports. This inconvenient math comes at a time when Trump is doubling down on the idea that tariffs are the golden goose of economic nationalism — and perhaps his most tangible “achievement.” Unfortunately for him, the numbers are refusing to cooperate.

The Promise: Tariffs would save America

Let’s rewind to the promises. Trump’s tariffs were supposed to bring manufacturing jobs back home and shrink the trade deficit. He told crowds in 2018 and again during his 2024 campaign that these economic moves were “the best thing to happen to American workers in decades.” Fast-forward to mid-2025, and the data is showing the opposite: American consumers are paying more, supply chains remain tangled, and imports are still far outpacing exports.

Kinzinger’s longstanding Trump criticism

Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic and one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach him after January 6, didn’t miss the chance to drag the former president. Posting a screenshot of the headline on social media with a heavy dose of sarcasm, Kinzinger wrote: “WAIT WHAT?!?! Hmmm wonder what the excuse will be this time since Trump is infallible.” Ouch. That one left a mark.

The former Illinois congressman has long accused Trump of economic populism with no grasp of actual economics. This time, he didn’t need to say much. The headline did the heavy lifting.

The economic reality: tariffs backfire

The problem? Tariffs are essentially taxes on imports. U.S. companies often pass these costs to consumers, while foreign governments retaliate with their own trade barriers. Trump’s approach assumes America can strong-arm its way into better deals — a strategy that looks better on cable news than it does in international markets.

And now, with the trade deficit ballooning under his watch — again — critics like Kinzinger are feeling vindicated.

Trump’s likely response: denial and deflection

To be fair, Trump has never been one to let facts slow him down. Expect him to call the numbers “fake,” blame Biden-era policies (which, amusingly, ended a year and a half ago), or spin this as some grand strategy no one else can understand. “Trust me” has always been his economic plan, backed by vibes and bravado.

But even Trump’s die-hard fans might feel the sting of rising prices and stagnant wages — especially if their MAGA hats were made in China and now cost 20% more thanks to the very tariffs meant to “protect American jobs.” Math Doesn’t Lie — Even if Trump Does