Health Ranger Report: Ron Paul on Trump’s tariffs and the dangerous expansion of presidential power

• Former Rep. Ron Paul argues that U.S. tariffs on China are not paid by Beijing but passed on to American consumers as higher prices, effectively acting as a hidden tax.
• The Trump administration’s claim that China “pays” for tariffs is flawed. U.S. importers bear the upfront costs, worsening inflation and economic strain. Tariffs cannot balance the federal budget, contrary to some claims.
• Tariffs are being used as “sanction weapons,” even against allies like India (facing 50 percent tariffs) while China – America’s primary adversary – faces comparatively lower rates, raising questions about strategic inconsistency.
• Unilateral presidential tariff authority mirrors the unchecked war powers post-WWII, undermining congressional oversight and expanding executive overreach – contrary to the Founders’ intent for tariffs as limited revenue tools, not geopolitical weapons.
• Allowing presidents to impose tariffs arbitrarily destabilizes trade, strains alliances and normalizes authoritarian policy-making. Restoring trade authority to Congress is critical to reclaiming constitutional integrity and economic stability.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs against China and other nations has been hailed by some as a long-overdue trade correction. But according to former Rep. Ron Paul (R-KY), the levies are nothing to celebrate about.

He explained to the Health Ranger Mike Adams during an appearance on the “Health Ranger Report” that Beijing doesn’t shoulder the real cost of these tariffs. It’s passed directly onto American consumers through higher prices, effectively functioning as a hidden tax, Paul continued.

The founder and chairman of the Ron Paul Institute highlighted the illusion that China “pays” for these penalties – a critical flaw in the Trump administration’s tariff strategy – during the interview. According to Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch engine, “Trump imposes steep tariffs on imports to pressure foreign companies into relocating their factories to the United States.” (Related: China STRIKES BACK, imposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as trade tensions escalate.)

In reality, tariffs are collected by the U.S. government at the border – meaning American importers foot the bill upfront. Those costs inevitably trickle down to consumers, exacerbating inflation and economic strain.

The notion that tariffs could somehow balance the federal budget, as some proponents absurdly suggest, only underscores how misunderstood – and misused – these trade tools have become. Worse still, the unchecked power wielded by the executive branch to unilaterally impose tariffs – and even weaponize them against allies – represents a dangerous departure from constitutional principles.

Adams pointed out that tariffs are basically used as “sanction weapons” – even against Washington’s longtime allies. This weaponization of import duties, he added, is “potentially destroying many decades of positive relationships.”

The Founders never intended this: How tariffs became a weapon

The arbitrary nature of presidential tariff authority becomes even more alarming when examining recent policy shifts. India, ostensibly a U.S. ally, now faces a staggering 50 percent tariff on certain goods. In contrast, China – the primary economic adversary – enjoys comparatively lower rates.

Trump’s repeated delays in escalating tariffs against Beijing raise serious questions about consistency and strategic intent. More troubling, however, is the precedent set by allowing a single individual to unilaterally reshape trade policy – disrupting decades-old alliances with the stroke of a pen.

Paul drew a direct parallel between this expansion of executive power and America’s unchecked military interventions abroad. Since World War II, U.S. presidents have repeatedly bypassed congressional approval to wage wars, a trend that mirrors the growing authoritarianism in trade policy.

The former congressman emphasized that the deeper issue is the erosion of constitutional checks on executive authority. According to him, the Founding Fathers designed tariffs as a limited revenue tool – not a geopolitical cudgel.

“I don’t think the Founders intended the president to have so much power,” Paul emphasized. “They did tolerate some some tariffs, but I don’t think they ever meant it to be a weapon for the president to use it – and then to expand it to sanctions, tariffs, manipulations and all kinds of punishments. No, it’s way too much power.”

By allowing presidents like Trump to impose tariffs at will without congressional oversight, America has normalized a system where trade policy becomes an extension of personal whim rather than national interest. The consequences are dire: Economic instability, strained alliances, and a presidency that grows ever more imperial in its reach.

If America is to restore both its economic sovereignty and its constitutional integrity, it must reckon with the dangerous precedent of unchecked tariff power. The solution lies not in protectionist strong-arming, but in returning trade authority to Congress – where the Founders intended it to reside.

Visit Trump.news for more similar stories.

Watch the full interview between Ron Paul and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump announces 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, effective February 1.

Trump threatens 50% TARIFF on EU imports – but delays it after talks with Brussels.

Trump fires warning shot at BRICS, threatens “100% tariffs” if China, Russia develop U.S. dollar alternative currency.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Brighteon.ai

BBC.com