Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer escalates his battle against former President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, announcing plans to bring the issue to a vote in Congress next week. During a visit to Commack, New York, Schumer stands alongside local Trump supporters and business owners to make the case that the tariffs are severely harming Long Island’s economy and putting tens of thousands of jobs across the state in jeopardy.
Schumer says the average Long Island family is paying approximately $5,000 more per year due to higher consumer prices triggered by Trump’s tariffs, particularly on goods imported from China. The Senator underscores the political significance of appearing with Trump-aligned voters, noting that economic hardship from the trade war transcends partisan lines.
Among the hardest-hit industries is fashion and apparel, with Schumer spotlighting TandyWear, a Long Island-based clothing company that reports a 30% increase in operating costs since the tariffs were imposed. Company executives say the price hikes have made it increasingly difficult to compete, forcing layoffs and slowing local economic growth.
Schumer claims the ripple effects from the tariffs extend beyond fashion, threatening an estimated 35,000 jobs on Long Island alone and tens of thousands more across New York State. “This is not just about politics. It’s about people’s livelihoods,” Schumer says. “The tariffs are a hidden tax on middle-class families and small businesses.”
He pledges to force a Senate vote next week to repeal the tariffs, which were originally enacted during Trump’s presidency as part of a broader trade war strategy intended to pressure China into revising trade practices. Trump has defended the tariffs as necessary leverage to address trade imbalances and protect American manufacturing jobs. However, economists have widely debated their effectiveness, with many warning that the long-term cost of retaliatory tariffs and disrupted supply chains outweighs the benefits.
Schumer’s announcement adds momentum to growing bipartisan criticism of the tariffs as inflation and economic pressure continue to mount. In recent months, several Republican senators have also expressed concerns about the ongoing economic toll of the trade war, especially in swing states and regions reliant on imports and exports.
The political optics of Schumer joining forces with disaffected Trump voters in a conservative part of Suffolk County marks a strategic move as Democrats try to reclaim support among working-class and suburban voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. Schumer insists this is not about partisanship but practical relief: “This is about getting costs down, getting jobs back, and giving families some breathing room.”
The vote to end the tariffs could face hurdles in the House, where Trump allies still hold sway. But Schumer says he is confident that a growing coalition of lawmakers, business groups, and everyday constituents will tip the balance in favor of economic reform.
As the debate intensifies, industries across the country are watching closely. For Long Island residents, however, the issue hits home. “We just want to be able to afford to run our business and support our workers,” says a TandyWear executive. “Right now, the tariffs are making that harder every day.”
