New Republican ads slam Democrats opposed to Trump’s tariffs

With fewer than 100 days to go before the 2026 midterm election, Republicans see an opportunity to score points on their Democratic colleagues on an unlikely issue: tariffs.

The National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday launched a digital advertising campaign — shared exclusively with CNBC — that targets vulnerable House Democrats and Democratic candidates in competitive districts who oppose President Donald Trump‘s tariffs against China and other countries.

The ads attempt to link Democratic opposition to Trump’s tariffs with support for China, though those targeted have largely fought the White House’s import duties on the grounds that they increase costs for American consumers and hurt agricultural producers and U.S. allies.

“House Democrats had a simple choice: stand with American workers or side with Communist China. They chose China. Voters won’t forget who stood with American workers and who stood with Beijing,” NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement.

The ads will run on social media in 15 districts in California, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania and feature the words “China first. America last” emblazoned next to images of battleground Democrats. The NRCC described it as a “modest ad buy,” but would not disclose the amount spent.

The ads appear as both parties jockey for congressional control in the waning months of this election year and as Republicans attempt to overcome Trump’s low approval ratings and general angst about the state of the economy to hold on to their narrow majority in the House. Democrats are widely favored to win back the chamber.

Trump has made tariffs a key economic policy in his second term and recently reimposed new import duties on dozens of countries and the EU after the Supreme Court dealt the administration a blow earlier this year by striking down many of the levies that had already been in effect.

On Friday, the White House announced new tariffs on 60 trade partners — including China — and set import duties between 10% and 12.5%, citing alleged labor violations.

Trump has argued tariffs are key revenue-generating tools that can even the playing field for U.S. businesses. But reception to his trade policy has been mixed, even among Republicans. And inflation and consumer prices have remained stubbornly high as Trump has promised tariffs would make U.S. jobs more plentiful and that goods in the country would become more affordable.

Some in the GOP have rebuffed the president, voting against some of his tariffs. And polling on Trump’s trade policy and his handling of the economy in general has been unfavorable of late.

In CNBC’s All America Economic Survey, which polled 1,000 registered voters in July, 60% of respondents said they…