Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs are already hurting Americans, especially those close to or in retirement.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Schiff warned that the tariffs are not just shaking investor confidence and hurting the stock market—they’re burning through people’s life savings.
“People have seen their retirement savings on fire, and there he is out on the golf course,” Schiff said.
“That may be the most enduring image of the Trump presidency: the president out on a golf cart while people’s retirement is in flames.”
Schiff added that the visual of Trump golfing while families lose financial stability could symbolize the broader disconnect between political elites and everyday Americans.
Trump’s Tariffs Are Fueling a Backlash
Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs of at least 10 percent on America’s trading partners has sparked widespread concern from both economists and business owners.
The result, critics say, is an economy on the brink of recession, with higher consumer prices and job losses already being reported across multiple industries.
Farmers, small business owners, and workers in the tourism sector are among those feeling the strain.
“I’m hearing from farmers who still haven’t recovered from the tariffs during the first Trump administration,” Schiff said.
“You have people from other countries who don’t want to come here.” According to him, Canadians are now refusing to do business with Americans, and these are real economic consequences, not theoretical models.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) echoed similar concerns during a House subcommittee hearing.
“What we need to light on fire are Trump’s tariffs,” she said. Crockett called them one of the largest tax increases Americans have faced in decades, disguised as trade reform.
She also criticized Trump’s personal spending habits and their cost to taxpayers.
“As of March 31, Trump’s golfing has cost us approximately $26 million,” Crockett said.
“We’re not getting anything in return for that. He decided he was going to golf as the markets were tanking.”
Crockett added that the administration has failed to articulate any strategy for economic recovery, choosing instead to dismantle public agencies and fire government workers under the guise of efficiency.
According to her, they’re burning through essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and even support for veterans, all while wasting money on leisure and optics.
Some GOP Senators Defend the Golf Trips
Despite criticism, some Republicans are brushing off concerns about Trump’s time on the golf course. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told CNN that most Americans don’t mind if the president takes time to unwind.
“Nah, I don’t think the American people care that much,” Kennedy said.
“They understand that presidents relax on the weekends. It doesn’t mean that he wasn’t talking on the phone or wasn’t in meetings.”
Kennedy did admit that the tariffs have been “painful” and could have unintended consequences.
Still, he suggested that the situation might correct itself.
“It may turn out well. It may not. If it doesn’t turn out well, I think the president will recalibrate,” he said.
Still, Schiff insisted that what’s unfolding is not just bad optics—it’s bad policy.
“This is a completely self-destructive economic act,” he said. “It will be the Trump recession. He will completely own it.”
He also warned that the damage being done now will take years to reverse, particularly for working- and middle-class families.
In the end, Schiff argued that while Americans are dealing with real financial consequences, the image of a president golfing through economic turmoil captures the disconnect between those making the decisions and those paying the price.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Adam Schiff” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.