Senate Republicans on Monday grew increasingly nervous after President Trump's comments over the weekend that some of his tariffs could be permanent and that things would be “OK” even if the U.S. experienced a short-term recession.

Republicans have been on edge for weeks as the Trump administration’s hemming and hawing on tariffs have created instability in the market and questions about the White House’s handling of the economy.

Now, GOP lawmakers acknowledge the president’s refusal over the weekend to rule out the possibility that some of his levies could remain in place in the long term, coupled with his remarks on the possibility of a recession, constitutes a one-two punch that is spooking consumers.

“I think there’s just a lot of uneasiness,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of GOP leadership. “They keep saying they’re close to a deal with a country, so I think that would be helpful to show that there’s progress here. I think people are sort of wondering where this is all going to lead.”

Capito noted the positive employment numbers that emerged last week, which came on the heels of data showing that the economy contracted during the first quarter by 0.3 percent on an annual basis. She conceded, however, that even if the........

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