NEW INTERVIEW: Jon Husted Defends Reckless Tariffs as Ohio Small Businesses Face Skyrocketing Costs

NEW INTERVIEW: Jon Husted Defends Reckless Tariffs as Ohio Small Businesses Face Skyrocketing Costs

February 10, 2026

Husted: "You don't hear from the ones that love it, right?"

Columbus, Ohio - In a new interview with Julie Mason, Jon Husted once again defended the reckless tariffs that are driving up costs for Ohio farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses, while dismissing the very real pain that Ohioans are feeling across the state.

WATCH HERE:

Transcript:

Julie Mason: And you know, Senator, I've heard anecdotally that a lot of small businesses also feel hard hit by the tariffs.

Jon Husted: Yeah, they do. There's no doubt that - I mean, some of them feel - you don't hear from the ones that love it, right? You hear, you hear from the ones that get hit. And there's no doubt that there are some small businesses that have had a great boost as a result […].

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Jon Husted was caught defending the reckless tariffs that are driving up prices across Ohio. While small business owners are struggling to keep their doors open and farmers face rising costs, Husted is dismissing their pain and pretending everything is fine. Jon Husted is completely out of touch with the people of Ohio."

Husted's comments are the latest example in a long pattern of dismissing the real struggles Ohioans are facing:

• Husted has dismissed concerns from struggling Ohioans, claiming that he has helped lower grocery and gas prices and that affordability problems do not exist.

• Husted revealed he has no solutions to actually lower prices, suggesting that Ohioans should just "earn more" to make ends meet.

• Husted insulted Ohio families who are working harder than ever to get by, complaining that Ohioans have a "broken" work ethic.

• Husted voted three separate times last year to block efforts reining in the reckless tariffs driving up costs and closing off markets.

• Because of the Husted-backed tariffs sending costs soaring, some small businesses in Northeast Ohio may need to close.

• The Husted-backed tariffs are costing a Grove City manufacturer millions of dollars in business, potentially threatening hundreds of jobs. When the company reached out to Jon Husted, his only response was that he "passed along" the concern to the administration.

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