The ‘gift’ Democrats think Trump just gave them

Politico

by By Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner

February 22, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Democrats are seizing on President Donald Trump’s tariff troubles as a golden opportunity to boost their midterms messaging, particularly around affordability and economic hardship. The Supreme Court recently ruled against Trump’s tariffs, calling them illegal, while Trump has doubled down by imposing new 15% tariffs worldwide. Democrats view this as a “gift,” offering a clear narrative that Trump’s policies have hurt American families and the economy, which they can use to attack Republicans in key races. The article highlights how Democrats are planning to weaponize Trump’s actions in their campaigns. Strategists see the Supreme Court ruling and Trump’s response as a new data point to criticize Republican allies who supported his tariffs. Potential 2028 presidential candidates like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have already jumped on this messaging, with Pritzker releasing an “invoice” demanding $8.6 billion in refunds for tariff overpayments and Newsom calling for immediate repayment of the tariffs. Democrats are particularly focused on Senate races in states hardest-hit by Trump’s trade policies, such as Iowa, where tariffs have disrupted agriculture markets and driven up input costs. By framing the tariffs as an illegal tax that benefits Trump but hurts everyday Americans, Democrats aim to paint Republicans as out of touch with voters’ economic struggles. This narrative is expected to feature prominently in 50% of their paid advertising, according to one House campaign strategist. The article underscores why this matters: it’s

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Originally published on Politico on 2/22/2026