Aaron Flint Supported Trump’s Tariffs, Which Montana Homebuilders Said Would Make It More Expensive To Build New Homes And Increase The Cost Of Housing

Flint Praised Economic Numbers He Said Were Positive 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: In Discussing Tariffs, Flint Said “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 Though Some Criticized The Tariffs, Peter Navarro Said Positive Economic Numbers Were 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 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… But Boy, They Will Get Big 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)

2025: 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. 6

[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. 6

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

Tariffs On Canadian Imports Would Make Homebuilding And Housing More Expensive According To Montana Homebuilders

March 2025: The Montana Building Industry Association Said Tariffs On Canada Would Hurt Lumber Imports And Increase Prices For Homebuilding

March 2025: Montana Right Now Headline: “Montana Builders Face Challenges With Potential Lumber Tariffs.” [Montana Right Now, 3/11/25]

March 2025: The Montana Building Industry Association (MBIA) Executive Director Said Tariffs On Canada Would Hurt Wood And Lumber Imports. “The federal government's consideration of a lumber tariff could have significant effects on Montana's construction industry. Andy Shirtliff, Executive Director of the Montana Building Industry Association, explained the potential challenges. ‘Currently with the tariffs, it's going to really hurt those wood import or lumber imports from other areas such as like Canada and with our sawmills and lumber mills closing down across the state that makes it even more difficult to get supply... And so, with that increases the price of that supply as well as the price of the home that they're looking to build,’ said Shirtliff.” [Montana Right Now, 3/11/25]

MBIA Executive Director: “That Increases The Price Of That Supply As Well As The Price Of The Home That They’re Looking To Build.” “The federal government's consideration of a lumber tariff could have significant effects on Montana's construction industry. Andy Shirtliff, Executive Director of the Montana Building Industry Association, explained the potential challenges. ‘Currently with the tariffs, it's going to really hurt those wood import or lumber imports from other areas such as like Canada and with our sawmills and lumber mills closing down across the state that makes it even more difficult to get supply... And so, with that increases the price of that supply as well as the price of the home that they're looking to build,’ said Shirtliff.” [Montana Right Now, 3/11/25]

November 2025: The National Association Of Home Builders Said Trump’s Tariffs On Canadian Imports Would Make Housing More Expensive

November 2025: The National Association Of Home Builders (NAHB) Said Trump’s Tariffs On Canadian Imports Of Lumber And Other Materials Would Make Housing More Expensive. “The National Association of Home Builders has said that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian imports of lumber and things like kitchen cabinets will make housing more expensive. ‘These new tariffs will create additional headwinds for an already challenged housing market by further raising construction and renovation costs,’ said NAHB chairman Buddy Hughes in a press release. The tariffs went into effect on Oct. 14. The Trump administration is trying to catalyze the U.S. lumber industry, and other manufacturing industries, by making it more expensive to import products from foreign countries. Theoretically, that would make American producers more competitive and allow them to ramp up production.” [Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 11/14/25]

• Montana Imported Around $100 Million Worth Of Canadian Softwood Lumber Every Year. “Canada accounts for nearly 85% of all U.S. lumber imports, and the U.S. Department of Commerce has more than doubled the duties on Canadian lumber. Montana imports around $100 million worth of Canadian softwood lumber every year directly from Canada, and it’s possible it uses quite a bit more than that by getting imported wood from other American suppliers who imported it first.” [Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 11/14/25]

NAHB Chairman: “These New Tariffs Will Create Additional Headwinds For An Already Challenged Housing Market By Further Raising Construction And Renovation Costs.” “The National Association of Home Builders has said that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian imports of lumber and things like kitchen cabinets will make housing more expensive. ‘These new tariffs will create additional headwinds for an already challenged housing market by further raising construction and renovation costs,’ said NAHB chairman Buddy Hughes in a press release.” [Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 11/14/25]

October 2025: Brookings Institution Calculated That Tariffs Would Add $30 Billion To The Costs Of Investment In Residential Structures

October 2025: Brookings Institution Headline: “Recent Tariffs Threaten Residential Construction.” [Brookings Institution, 10/3/25]

The Brookings Institute Calculated That Tariffs Would Add Roughly $30 Billion To The Costs Of Investment In Residential Structures. “Using TPC’s tariff model, we calculated that current tariffs, including those just announced, will add roughly $30 billion to the costs of investment in residential structures. Our calculations show that about 90% of the costs to residential investment will fall on construction of new homes, including apartments.” [Brookings Institution, 10/3/25]

The Trump Administration Imposed New Or Higher Tariffs On Materials Needed To Build New Homes, Including Lumber, Steel, And Kitchen Cabinets. “The U.S. faces a housing shortage measured in the millions of units, and families are struggling with historically high rents and home prices. The Trump administration has expressed a goal to reduce the cost of living and make housing more affordable, and may declare a national housing emergency. But it is also imposing new or elevated tariffs on lumber, gypsum, steel, and now, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and other related products, the very materials that builders need to construct new homes. These taxes raise costs across the board—whether for new construction, renovations, or affordable housing development.” [Brookings Institution, 10/3/25]