Don Beyer U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Don Beyer U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Representative Don Beyer, a member of the U.S. Congress representing Virginia's 8th District, shared his candid views on former President Trump's trade policies via a series of tweets. These posts throw light on Beyer's perspective regarding the trade strategies implemented during Trump's administration.
On April 11, 2025, Beyer shared his remarks in a tweet directed at Trump's top trade adviser. He stated, "Ambassador Greer, you have a most awful job: to try to convince us and the people we represent that the President’s trade policies are wise and measured when the truth is they are stupid and bad." The tweet expresses Beyer's belief that the trade policies were not in the best interest of the nation's economic health.
In a subsequent tweet posted the same day, Beyer pointed out a significant mathematical error cited by the former administration's trade adviser. He tweeted, "You got the math wrong, according to the people whose research you cited... This math error had the effect of quadrupling the tariffs Trump applied to some of our biggest trading partners." This error, Beyer argues, amplified the tariffs imposed, impacting international relations and trade.
Adding further critique, Beyer highlighted the selective nature of Trump’s tariffs in another post on April 11, 2025. He noted that, "Trump exempted some goods – notably oil – but not others, including things we simply cannot produce in the United States. Why tariff bananas? Why tariff cocoa? Why tariff coffee? We don’t have the capacity to produce these things at a scale that meets domestic demand." This tweet underscores Beyer’s criticism of policies on essential goods that the U.S. cannot sufficiently produce, leading to potential shortages and market disruption.
Don Beyer has been serving in Congress since 2015, representing Virginia’s 8th district after succeeding Jim Moran. The 72-year-old congressman was born in Trieste in 1950 and currently resides in Alexandria. He is a graduate of Williams College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.
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