Rep. Ro Khanna, representing California’s 17th district, recently addressed several issues on the social media platform X. In his recent tweets, Khanna discusses the implications of tariffs, international economic relations, and immigration policy impacts on specific communities.
In a post on April 7, 2025, Khanna highlighted the dependency on imports for building materials, noting that “70% of lumber imported used to build housing, 74% of drywall material, and most ceiling fixtures are imported from Mexico, China, and Canada.” He stated that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs are expected to “increase the cost of building housing.”
Shortly after, in another post on April 7, 2025, Khanna commented on the geopolitical consequences of Trump’s tariffs. He wrote, “Trump’s tariffs are driving South Korea and Japan straight into an economic alliance with China,” cautioning that such a move could inadvertently bolster China’s position. Khanna emphasized that while the aim is to boost American manufacturing, “blanket tariffs on our close allies, Japan and South Korea, will just help China.”
Khanna also addressed a domestic issue in a separate post on April 7, 2025, focusing on the United States’ Bhutanese community. He stated, “The Trump administration’s deportations of at least 13 individuals who fled Bhutan’s ethnic cleansing have retraumatized the community.” Khanna calls for “transparency and due process” in handling such sensitive immigration issues.
