It is fascinating how the positions of the two major U.S. political parties have flipped on tariffs. Democrats, who historically supported protectionist trade measures, now oppose tariffs, while Republicans—once champions of free trade—have embraced them. Yes, party platforms evolve, but this kind of sudden reversal is still remarkable.

What’s even more bizarre is the mental gymnastics on both sides. Some argue that tariffs somehow benefit CEOs and the wealthy, even though stock market reactions consistently show that tariffs hurt corporate profits. Others on the right now frame tariffs as a fundamentally “Republican” principle, despite decades of GOP support for free markets and globalization.

Here’s my prediction: many CEOs and wealthy individuals will gravitate toward the Democratic Party. Why? Because tariffs reduce profits, and Trump’s policies seem designed to benefit a narrow segment of the rich rather than the broader business class. Over the next 8 to 16 years, we may see the GOP fully reposition as the party of the working class, while Democrats become the party of the affluent elite.

Personally, I’ve always favored genuine free trade, which is why I’ve leaned Republican. But now, I’m not so sure. I used to argue with my liberal friends that tariffs are essentially a regressive tax—they raise prices for everyone, especially hurting lower-income consumers. The counterargument, of course, is that tariffs could incentivize companies to bring production back to the U.S.

But let’s be honest: that’s not happening. Tariffs raise prices, but they don’t magically bring manufacturing back home. From my conservative perspective, companies should have the flexibility to offshore production—especially if they face pressure from unions or rising domestic costs.