Roger Marshall praises Trump's tariff policies after Kansas executive says they hurt his business

A Kansas metal fabrication executive told U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall that Trump-era tariffs hurt his business, citing reduced global demand, lower margins, higher transportation costs and rising employee cost of living. Zac Surritt, from R&S Maintenance in Meriden, said the changes forced the company to delay expansion plans and urged Marshall to justify the tariffs. Marshall responded that Surritt’s experience likely represents an anomaly compared with other manufacturers in northeast Kansas that are expanding, and he reiterated his support for Trump’s tariff approach and efforts to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. A separate appearance by Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton argued tariffs have produced “instability” and urged Congress to require clearer justification before imposing penalties on trading partners.