Hoekstra fought tariffs in Congress. He's changed his tune as Trump's Canadian ambassador

US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman and business leader, has long been an outspoken critic of tariffs. In Congress, he argued that the government should not dictate steel prices, instead letting the market determine them.

However, Hoekstra's stance on trade seems to have shifted since becoming Trump's ambassador to Canada in 2021. He now defends President Trump's approach to tariffs as a necessary measure to achieve "balanced and reciprocal trade relationships" with Canada.

Hoekstra was quoted defending Trump's trade policies on social media and reportedly chastised the Ontario government for airing an ad during the World Series that championed free trade, calling it "anti-American."

The change in Hoekstra's views has been mirrored by other Michigan Republican leaders. His shifting stance on tariffs marks a new reality for the state, where companies are grappling with the economic impact of tariffs on Canadian goods.

As the last factory closes its doors at Howard Miller, a western Michigan furniture company that cited Trump's tariffs as a major contributor to its demise, workers like Nelson Vandermeer who have dedicated over 30 years to the firm can only watch as the business they once called home is reduced to selling off inventory.

omg this is so sad for those factory workers i mean i get that trade policies are tricky and all but it feels like Pete Hoekstra's views were always more about being a diplomat rather than a politician... anyway the fact that they're having to close down one of the last factories in Western Michigan because of tariffs is just devastating those workers must be heartbroken and i feel bad for them too

this dude's about-face on tariffs is wild... one minute he's all about free market, next he's defending Trump's trade policies . And now Michigan is paying the price - a company that laid off employees after those tariffs came in? can't say I'm surprised but still kinda gutted for the workers who lost their jobs over it . Guess you could say Hoekstra's changed his tune to fit the new reality... hope he's got some explaining to do

I'm so bummed to see Pete Hoekstra's views on tariffs shift like this... I mean, he was always about free market and all that jazz, but now it seems like he's just playing along with Trump's trade policies . And the fact that Michigan is feeling the pinch because of those tariffs is just heartbreaking - Howard Miller closing its doors? 30+ years of dedication from one employee? That's just devastating for the community, you know? It's like they're taking away a piece of their identity and history. I'm not sure what's more frustrating, the fact that Hoekstra has changed his mind or that no one seems to be holding him accountable for it .

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on with Pete Hoekstra and his sudden change of heart on tariffs. Like, what's next? Him trying to sell us on the benefits of stricter gun control laws in Canada? I mean, I get it, he's Trump's man now, but come on, that ad about free trade during the World Series? That just reeks of paid propaganda. And those Michigan factories shutting down due to tariffs? That's a classic case of corporate spin. What they're not telling us is that Hoekstra's new stance on tariffs is probably just a way for him to line his own pockets with big business cash. Mark my words, something shady is going on here...

This guy Pete Hoekstra has been playing both sides against each other all along . I mean, he's always talking about free trade and stuff, but then suddenly becomes Trump's lapdog . And now he's trashing the Ontario government for promoting free trade? That's some weird flip-flopping right there . You gotta wonder what his real agenda is here... maybe he's just trying to save face after his company Howard Miller went down the drain because of those tariffs . I'm not saying Hoekstra's a bad guy or anything, but come on, consistency is key, you know?

just saw this Pete Hoekstra guy... his views on tariffs changed so fast . used to be all about market forces, now he's all for tariffs to 'balance trade' . that sounds like just a fancy way of saying 'we'll control the price'. newsflash: that's not how it works . companies are struggling with tariff costs and no one's talking about the real people who will lose their jobs because of this . Howard Miller factory closing down? 30 years of service and they're out . just another example of how politics can hurt real lives

omg this is crazy what happened to those factory workers at Howard Miller they've been loyal for so long and now it's all because of tariffs I feel bad for them Pete Hoekstra needs to get his priorities straight - the people he's supposed to be representing are suffering

I think Hoekstra's change of heart about tariffs is pretty confusing... I mean, he used to be all for letting the market decide prices, but now he's like "oh, tariffs are necessary" . And that quote where he calls that Ontario ad "anti-American"? seems kinda out of touch with what's really going on. But at the same time, can't blame companies for trying to adapt to changing trade policies, especially when it comes to something as big as tariffs . Maybe Hoekstra's just trying to stay relevant in a changing political landscape?

Man, it's crazy how opinions change over time #TariffTussle. I mean, Pete Hoekstra used to be all about letting the market handle steel prices, but now he's pro tariffs and defending Trump's approach? It's like, what happened to the guy who spoke up against those very same tariffs in Congress? Did he just get caught up in politics or is there something else going on here? The fact that Michigan leaders are shifting their stance too is worrying. Companies are struggling, workers are losing jobs, and it all feels like a huge mistake #EconomicImpacts. It's heartbreaking to see Howard Miller close its doors - 30 years of dedication and now what?

What's going on with Pete Hoekstra? I mean, one minute he's all about free market and the next he's defending Trump's tariffs like they're the best thing since sliced bread . And now Michigan factories are shutting down left and right because of these tariffs... it's just not adding up for me. I need some credible sources to back up his change in views, but so far, nothing concrete . It's also pretty rich that he's complaining about the Ontario government promoting free trade when he's the one who's supposed to be representing US interests . Someone explain this shift to me... or maybe I'll just have to dig deeper .

So I'm thinking about this and it seems like Pete Hoekstra has had a pretty wild shift in his views on tariffs... I mean, he was all about letting the market dictate steel prices back when he was in Congress, but now that he's Trump's ambassador to Canada, he's totally flipped. It's like he's been indoctrinated or something! He's now defending Trump's trade policies as a way to get "balanced and reciprocal trade relationships" with Canada... which is just code for saying the US should control steel prices and dictate terms to Canada.

It's also pretty interesting that Hoekstra went after the Ontario government for airing an ad during the World Series that promoted free trade. I mean, what's up with that? It's like he's trying to send a message that the Republican party in Michigan is all about being anti-free trade now. And it makes sense given the economic impact of tariffs on companies like Howard Miller, which had to close its doors due to Trump's tariffs. It's just so frustrating for workers who dedicated their lives to those companies and now they're struggling to make ends meet.

I guess what I'm saying is that this whole thing is a bit of a mess. Tariffs are supposed to be about promoting US industries, but if Hoekstra's views have shifted like that, it's hard to see how that's actually working out.

Pete Hoekstra's flip on tariffs is like a switch from on to off . From free market pro to Trump sycophant, what changed his mind?

I'm not sure what's going on with Pete Hoekstra's views on trade... one minute he's all about free markets and next minute he's defending tariffs that are basically strangling businesses like Howard Miller in Michigan . It's like the whole "balanced and reciprocal trade relationships" thing just became a fancy way to say "we're gonna make Canada pay for our mistakes". I don't blame Hoekstra for trying to keep his job, but can't he at least be honest about why he changed his tune? It feels like a pretty big cop-out .

It looks like some people just lose their way in life ... "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

I feel bad for Pete Hoekstra, he went from being all about market control to supporting tariffs... I mean, you'd think it's just a change in politics, but what really got me was the Ontario government ad thing . It sounds like things have changed so much in Michigan that even people who used to agree with Hoekstra now don't. It's sad for workers like Nelson Vandermeer who lost their job because of tariffs... 30 years of dedication and then it's all taken away

just think about it... how easy for these politicians to change sides when their party is in power ... and what's with all these tariffs anyway? like, who benefits from them? not the workers at Howard Miller, that's for sure ... i mean, i get it, trade can be complex, but shouldn't we be looking out for each other rather than just our own interests? and another thing, how does a guy like Pete Hoekstra go from being an outspoken critic to suddenly defending tariffs? did he just lose touch with reality or what? ...

I'm kinda surprised by Pete Hoekstra's flip-flop on tariffs . I mean, we've seen him go from being all about free market principles in Congress to now defending Trump's approach to tariffs as a necessary evil. It doesn't quite add up, you know? And what's with the jab at the Ontario government for airing that ad during the World Series? That just seems kinda petty . As someone who's seen firsthand how tariffs can hurt small businesses and workers like Nelson Vandermeer, it's disheartening to see Hoekstra now support policies that have a negative impact on his home state of Michigan . It'll be interesting to see if other Michigan Republican leaders follow suit or stay true to their original stance .

man... I'm so sad for those folks in Western Michigan. The impact of tariffs on small businesses and workers can't be overstated it's one thing to talk about free trade, but what happens when companies are actually affected by the policies they're supposed to support? Hoekstra's change of heart is like a punch to the gut for people who trusted him as a leader. I mean, I get that Trump's approach might have been intended to "protect American interests," but at what cost? It's not just about factories closing down, it's about people's livelihoods and communities being left behind

I'm seeing some pretty interesting shifts in trade policies from the US side lately... It's crazy how quickly opinions can change, especially for someone like Hoekstra who was once an outspoken critic of tariffs. Now he's basically defending Trump's approach as a necessary step towards "balanced and reciprocal trade relationships" with Canada... But I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he's taking on his own state reps for having free trade ad during the World Series - talk about a weird shift, right? It's also got me thinking about the economic impact of tariffs on companies like Howard Miller... it's heartbreaking to see a company with so much history and dedication being brought down by something as simple as taxes.