In Congress, where Mr. Trump\u2019s Republican Party has long championed free trade, the tariff regiment has been met with applause but also significant unease.<\/p>\n

Several Republican senators have already signed onto a new bipartisan bill that would require presidents to justify new tariffs to Congress. Lawmakers would then have to approve the tariffs within 60 days, or they would expire. <\/p>\n

Wyoming\u2019s John Barrasso, the No. 2 member of the Senate\u2019s GOP leadership, said Trump is \u201cdoing what he has every right to do.\u201d But, he acknowledged, \u201cthere is concern, and there\u2019s concern across the country. People are watching the markets.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll be a discussion in the Senate,\u201d Mr. Barrasso said of the tariffs. \u201cWe\u2019ll see which way the discussion goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr. Trump\u2019s government cost-cutting guru, billionaire businessman Elon Musk, had been relatively silent on Mr. Trump\u2019s tariffs, but said at a weekend event in Italy that he would like to see the U.S. and Europe move to \u201ca zero-tariff situation.\u201d The comment from the Tesla owner who leads Trump\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency drew a rebuke from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro.<\/p>\n

\u201cElon, when he is on his DOGE lane, is great. But we understand what\u2019s going on here. We just have to understand. Elon sells cars,\u201d Mr. Navarro said. He added: \u201cHe\u2019s simply protecting his own interest as any business person would do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lawrence Summers, an economist who was treasury secretary under Democratic President Bill Clinton, said Mr. Trump and his economic team are sending contradictory messages if they say they are interested in reviving manufacturing while still being open to negotiating with trade partners. <\/p>\n

If other countries eliminate their tariffs, and the U.S, does, too, he said, \u201cit\u2019s just making a deal, then we don\u2019t raise any revenue nor do we get any businesses to relocate to the United States. If it\u2019s a permanent revenue source and trying to get businesses to relocate to the United States, then we\u2019re going to have these tariffs permanently. So the president can\u2019t have it both ways.\u201d <\/p>\n

Mr. Bessent was on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d Hassett and Summers appeared on ABC\u2019s \u201cThis Week,\u201d Lutnick and Barrasso were on CBS\u2019 \u201cFace the Nation\u201d and Navarro was interviewed on Fox News Channel\u2019s \u201cSunday Morning Futures.\u201d<\/p>\n