Pelosi, 30 years ago, sounded like Trump on tariffs

I just read an article on Breitbart that touted Trump as the greatest Democrat, citing the fact that many of his policies today are in line with liberal policies of decades ago, especially regarding tariffs.

So, we did some digging, and you would be amazed at how accurate that statement is, including in reference to the one and only Nancy Pelosi, as Breitbart reports.

Pelosi sounds like Trump

In June 1996, nearly three decades ago, Pelosi (D-CA) stood on the House floor and railed about our country's trade policies. Quite contrary to the narrative she is spouting off now, as she talks about Trump ruining the country with tariffs.

Pelosi stated, "In terms of tariffs, it’s interesting to note that the average U.S. MFN [Most Favored Nation] tariff on Chinese goods coming into the United States is two percent, whereas the average MFN tariff on U.S. goods going into China is 35 percent." She then asked, “Is that reciprocal?”

She added, "In terms of jobs, this is the biggest and cruelest hoax of all. Not only do we not have market access, not only do they have prohibitive tariffs, not only are our exports not let in very specifically, but China benefits with at least, at least, 10 million jobs from U.S.-China trade."

Pelosi would go on to say, “The fact is that US-China trade is a job loser.”

Bernie sounds like Trump

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is also going off on Trump these days, but he was also pushing tariffs in 2008.

At the time, Sanders stated, "I understand that we need trade policies that benefit American workers, not just the CEOs of large corporations. And that includes targeted tariffs which can be a powerful tool in stopping corporations from outsourcing American jobs and factories abroad."

He went on, "Bottom line: We need a rational, well-thought-out and fair trade policy. Trump’s across-the-board tariffs are not the way to do it."

Sanders added, “We do not need a blanket and arbitrary sales tax on imported goods which will raise prices on products that the American people desperately need. We should be doing everything we can to lower prices, not make them incredibly higher."

Obama sounds like

Former President Barack Obama is another one spewing of the evils of Trump’s tariffs, but he too supported hitting our powerful adversaries with tariffs to level the playing field.

Barack Obama demanded fair trade in 2018:

"It’s also proper for advanced economies like the United States to insist on reciprocity from nations like China."

Where was the outrage from Democrats and the mainstream media? pic.twitter.com/SPEpwaXRkf

— Jim Banks (@Jim_Banks) April 3, 2025

Now, however, because it is Trump, Obama came out of hiding and is blasting the current president's plan, even daring to use the words, “Imagine if I had done any of this?”

It just goes to show how quickly the narrative changes when it is the other side doing what you wanted to do but failed to do.

The unfortunate aspect of all of this is that most mainstream media outlets will ignore their jobs and not do the research to challenge these people when they are spouting off about it, asking them why their opinion changed when they were all for this before. It’s a game, my friends, political theater… and sadly, we are the ones being played.