Former Trump advisor changes stance: tariffs are essentially an "invisible consumption tax" that could drag down the economy and employment

BlockBeats News, December 31 — Conservative economist and former senior economic advisor to President Trump during his first term, Moore, recently publicly questioned the large-scale tariff policies of the Trump administration, describing them as an “invisible tax” on consumers that could hinder economic growth and weaken employment. Moore stated, “Tariffs are taxes, and taxes are never a good thing,” marking a clear departure from his previous support for trade protectionism. He pointed out that although tariffs are viewed by the government as tools to revitalize manufacturing and fund tax cuts, their costs are ultimately passed on to consumers, driving up prices and exacerbating inflation. Data from multiple research institutions show that the new round of tariff policies implemented in 2025 could increase tax burdens by approximately $1.2 trillion over the next decade, reduce US GDP by about 0.4%, and eliminate 344,000 jobs. Moore also acknowledged that the regressive nature of tariffs would disproportionately impact low- and middle-income families. He called for targeted and time-limited tariff measures and urged the rapid implementation of tax cuts to offset negative effects. His shift in stance is seen by external observers as a sign of deepening divisions within the Trump camp between free market principles and trade protectionism, adding uncertainty to the direction of US economic policy in 2026.