Aaron Flint Praised Trump’s Tariffs, Which Cost Montana Businesses $42 Million And Increased The Cost Of Living For Montanans

Flint Said, “Economic Numbers Are Still Rocking And Rolling” Because Of Tariffs And Supported Trump’s Tariff Threats Against Canada and Mexico

2026: Flint Said, “The Economic Numbers Are Still Rocking And Rolling” Because Of Tariffs

AUDIO: February 2026: Flint: “The Economic Numbers Are Still Rocking And Rolling.” FLINT: “And by the way, the economic numbers are still rocking and rolling.” CALLER: “I know.” FLINT: “Some would say despite the tariffs, but Peter Navarro said it's because of the tariffs because of what that's doing with the American economy and encouraging more domestic manufacturing, etc. But what do you think? What do you think about taking some of the revenue and giving it right back to the people?” [Montana Talks, 42:35, 2/18/26] (AUDIO)

AUDIO: February 2026: Flint Said Peter Navarro Said Positive Economic Numbers Happened Because Of The Tariffs. FLINT: “And by the way, the economic numbers are still rocking and rolling.” CALLER: “I know.” FLINT: “Some would say despite the tariffs, but Peter Navarro said it's because of the tariffs because of what that's doing with the American economy and encouraging more domestic manufacturing, etc. But what do you think? What do you think about taking some of the revenue and giving it right back to the people?” [Montana Talks, 42:35, 2/18/26] (AUDIO)

Flint Appeared To Support Trump’s Tariff Threats Against Canada And Mexico

March 2025: Flint Said, “That Didn’t Take Long...But Watch The Never Trumper/Liberal Media Tariff Fear Porn Continue” In Response To The Headline, “Canada Backs Down On Electricity Surcharge After Trump Tariff Threats.” “That didn't take long...but watch the Never Trumper/liberal media tariff fear porn continue- ‘Canada Backs Down On Electricity Surcharge After Trump Tariff Threats’ #MTPol @pvtjokerus.” [Aaron Flint, Twitter, 3/12/25]

Image: see original report, p. 53

[Aaron Flint, Twitter, 3/12/25]

Flint: “And Just Like That: ‘Trump Says Mexico Will Stop Flow Of Migrants After Speaking With Mexican President Following Tariff Threats.’” “And just like that: ‘Trump says Mexico will stop flow of migrants after speaking with Mexican president following tariff threats’ #mtpol.” [Aaron Flint, Twitter, 11/27/24]

Image: see original report, p. 53

[Aaron Flint, Twitter, 11/27/24]

Flint Described Tariffs On Other Countries As Taxes On Other Countries Instead Of Montanans

Flint Said Liberals “Get Mad If We Want To Tariff China. They Get Mad If You Want To Tax China.” FLINT: “They’ll argue that a tariff is a tax and, you know, some ways, but here's the thing, like, okay, so if we tax China, the liberals get mad if they want to call a tariff a tax.” CALLER: “Yeah.” FLINT: “They get mad if we want to tariff China. They get mad if you want to tax China. They don't get mad if, if they want to tax Chris in Billings or Susan in Missoula. In fact, they will cheerlead the effort to tax you. But boy, they will get big mad if you want to tax China. It's just like, why they say nothing about China coal, but they get big mad about union-made American coal.” [Montana Talks, 43:11, 2/18/26] (AUDIO)

Flint Said Liberals “Don’t Get Mad If, If They Want To Tax Chris In Billings Or Susan In Missoula.” FLINT: “They’ll argue that a tariff is a tax and, you know, some ways, but here's the thing, like, okay, so if we tax China, the liberals get mad if they want to call a tariff a tax.” CALLER: “Yeah.” FLINT: “They get mad if we want to tariff China. They get mad if you want to tax China. They don't get mad if, if they want to tax Chris in Billings or Susan in Missoula. In fact, they will cheerlead the effort to tax you. But boy, they will get big mad if you want to tax China. It's just like, why they say nothing about China coal, but they get big mad about union-made American coal.” [Montana Talks, 43:11, 2/18/26] (AUDIO)

March 2026: Montana Businesses Paid About $42 Million In Tariffs And Local Business Owners Criticized Tariffs For “Absolutely Creating Increased Prices At The Cash Register For All Consumers”

March 2026: Montana Businesses Paid About $42 Million In Tariffs In The Past Year

March 2026: Montana Businesses Paid About $42 Million In Tariffs In The Past Year. “Nearly a year after President Donald Trump announced his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, small businesses across Montana say they are still dealing with the fallout, from higher costs and delayed hiring to continued uncertainty over what tariffs will remain in place. New trade data estimates Montana businesses paid roughly $42 million in tariffs over the past year tied to those policies, and business owners say the cost has been felt both at the company level and by consumers.” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Missoula Businessman Ryan Guay Said His Company Delayed Hiring In Montana Due To Unknown Costs And Said Tariffs Were “Absolutely Creating Increased Prices At The Cash Register For All Consumers”

Missoula Businessman Ryan Guay Said The Biggest Challenge Was Not Knowing What Tariff Rate Would Apply Until Shipments Were Already In Motion. “In Missoula, Ryan Guay, CEO and co-founder of FLATED, says tariffs hit his company at a time when it was expecting strong growth. FLATED manufactures inflatable automotive accessories, including inflatable truck toppers, and Guay says the biggest challenge has been not knowing what tariff rate will apply until shipments are already moving. ‘It’s one thing being charged a tariff, but the hardest part is not knowing what the tariff percentage is,’ Guay says. ‘We spent the majority of last year not exactly knowing what each container was going to cost.’” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Guay Said Tariffs Were “Absolutely Creating Increased Prices At The Cash Register For All Consumers.” “‘If you think all the companies can just absorb tariffs, then you're absolutely wrong,’ Guay says. ‘It's absolutely creating increased prices at the cash register for all consumers.’” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Guay Said His Company Delayed Hiring In Montana Due To The Unknown Costs. “Guay says those unknown costs forced his company to scale back growth plans and delay hiring in Montana. ‘We have five employees here in Montana,’ he says. ‘At the beginning of last year, we were definitely looking on expanding that team, and then with the unknown costs, I think we definitely pulled back.’ He says the impact stretched beyond staffing, affecting events, marketing initiatives, and new projects as the company tried to stay conservative and avoid financial risk.” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Bonner Businessman Jess Nepstad Called Tariffs “A National Tax” And Said The Biggest Misconception Was That Foreign Countries Paid The Tariffs

Bonner Businessman Jess Nepstad Said His Company Saw A Nearly 21% Retail And Wholesale Price Increase. “In Bonner, Jess Nepstad, CEO of Planetary Design, says his company develops and patents its product designs in Montana but relies on overseas manufacturing to produce coffee and cannabis storage containers, drinkware, and brewing equipment. He says the tariff increases forced the company to make a major pricing decision after initially trying to hold steady. ‘We took a retail and wholesale price increase of nearly 21%,’ Nepstad says.” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Nepstad Called Tariffs “A National Tax,” And Said, “You’re Going To Pay Because The Consumer Is Going To Pay For It.” “He says that is why he views tariffs as a broad cost that shows up in everyday purchases. ‘It’s a national tax. It’s across everything that comes in, whether it's a pharmaceutical or a pair of sneakers,’ Nepstad says. ‘You're going to pay because the consumer is going to pay for it.’” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

Nepstad Said The Biggest Misconception Was That Foreign Countries Paid The Tariffs. “Nepstad says the biggest misconception is that foreign countries pay the tariffs. Instead, he says importers are charged, leaving businesses with a choice between absorbing the cost or passing it along. ‘You know, it's not China that pays them or India or whatever other country,’ Nepstad says. ‘Eventually the importer pays them. We can either absorb those costs or pass it on to the consumer.’” [KRTV, 3/26/26]

• Nepstad: “Eventually The Importer Pays Them. We Can Either Absorb Those Costs Or Pass It On To The Consumer.” “Nepstad says the biggest misconception is that foreign countries pay the tariffs. Instead, he says importers are charged, leaving businesses with a choice between absorbing the cost or passing it along. ‘You know, it's not China that pays them or India or whatever other country,’ Nepstad says. ‘Eventually the importer pays them. We can either absorb those costs or pass it on to the consumer.’” [KRTV, 3/26/26]