In an interview with Kaitlan Collins, Senator Bernie Moreno explained in layman's terms how President Trump's tariffs would benefit American car manufacturers and their employees, deftly nuking every talking point the CNN journalist rolled out.

Former Vice President Mike Pence ended up in the blast radius in the process.

Moreno (R-OH) worked at General Motors early on in his career and later became the general manager of a Saturn dealership in Massachusetts. In 2005, he purchased a struggling Mercedes-Benz dealership in the Cleveland area and transformed it into one of the most successful in the country. 

He clearly knows the business end of what drives car sales. Collins, though, led the narrative by asking what he would say to consumers who will supposedly suffer under the tariffs.

"What would you say to the consumer who's watching that, who's worried that they're going to have to pay more for their car tonight?" she inquired.

Moreno immediately dismissed that notion, pointing out that dealerships have nearly three months' worth of inventory on their lots, and a worried buyer could purchase a vehicle unimpacted by the tariffs.

The Senator then broke it down for Collins.

"Ultimately, what we're looking to do is very simple. We need cars made here in America that are sold here in America," he said.

He explained that the tariffs will nudge that into reality, benefiting workers as well.

"If one car goes up in price because there's a tariff, that person will just buy the other one that doesn't have a tariff, which is your American-made automobile — and places like Ohio benefit because your neighbor is employed as a result," Moreno pointed out.

Sen. @berniemoreno: "If one car goes up in price because there's a tariff, that person will just buy the other one that doesn't have a tariff, which is your American-made automobile — and places like Ohio benefit because your neighbor is employed as a result." pic.twitter.com/Zq5ye33Oxo

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 3, 2025

RELATED: How Do the UAW and Detroit Feel About the Announcement of Trump's Tariffs?

Trump Talks Tariffs on New Cars Imported to US in Announcement Presser

When she wasn't able to deliver her own knockout blow, Collins then opted to bring in Pence, who in a near verbatim recreation of Democrat talking points, referred to President Trump's tariffs as a tax.

A rather large one.

"The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history," he said on X. "These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year."

The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year. Check Out“Spoiling America’s Golden Age”@AmericanFreedom 👇 pic.twitter.com/2NghyDc8c1

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 2, 2025

Trump’s tariffs are designed to impose costs on foreign producers, not American consumers, by effectively forcing overseas companies to either absorb the cost or raise prices to compete with domestic products. It's a long overdue course correction on trade.

While critics argue that higher import prices hurt consumers, the policy incentivizes foreign nations to negotiate trade deals or lower their own barriers, shifting the economic burden globally rather than domestically.

Moreno hammered back at Pence rather effectively after Collins referenced his comments.

"No offense to Mike Pence, he's never run anything other than a political campaign," he countered. "This is not a business guy, so he's repeating talking points."

Then, he really lowered the boom when Collins tried to sell Pence's credentials as Vice President.

Career politicians like Mike Pence are part of the problem, they did nothing for decades while our industrial sector was gutted.

President Trump is finally reversing their failed policies and fighting back for American workers. That’s exactly what we saw today. pic.twitter.com/02V21lz8an

— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) April 3, 2025

"He has no idea what any of this is about. He's never been in the private sector. You know, these career politicians are part of the problem here in D.C. because they actually don't know what it's like to actually understand how businesses work," Moreno said.

"And what President Trump is doing is reversing the policies of people like Mike Pence, who sold this country out. That, over decades, gutted our industrial sector, shipped our jobs overseas. Cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown - these were thriving cities that produced a lot of goods."

No more. Those jobs are exported overseas.

You can watch the entire interview below.

WATCH: Last night, @berniemoreno joined CNN’s Kaitlan Collins to discuss Trump’s tariffs.

“We need cars made here in America that are sold here in America.” pic.twitter.com/Ih8cc2zFwE

— Team Moreno (@teammoreno2024) April 3, 2025

President Trump brought a group of auto workers to his Rose Garden ceremony to announce his tariff plan Wednesday. United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain has praised Trump's efforts to end "the free trade disaster that has devastated working-class communities for decades."

“Anybody who has plants in the United States, it’s going to be good for,” Trump explained.

You can bet anything that benefits the American people will be universally opposed by Democrats, the media, and anyone uninterested in making America great again.

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