Kentucky’s Bourbon Blues: When Trump Voters Get a Taste of Their Own Tariffs
Oh, Kentucky. The land of rolling hills, horse races, and—apparently—self-inflicted economic pain. In a delightful twist of irony, the very folks who cheered for Donald Trump’s trade wars are now clutching their bottles of bourbon and crying into their mint juleps. Why? Because Trump’s latest tariff threats are poised to turn Kentucky’s beloved bourbon industry into a cautionary tale of “be careful what you vote for.”
The article from The Star highlights how Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods could lead to retaliatory measures from China, targeting American exports like bourbon. And guess what? Kentucky just happens to be the bourbon capital of the world. Oops. The state’s distillers, who’ve been riding high on a global bourbon boom, are now staring down the barrel of a potential catastrophe.
But let’s rewind for a second. Remember when Trump slapped tariffs on Chinese imports back in 2018, promising it would “make America great again”? And remember how Kentucky voters overwhelmingly supported him, even as farmers and manufacturers warned that tariffs could backfire? Well, fast forward to today, and the chickens—or should we say, the bourbon barrels—are coming home to roost.
China, being the savvy trade partner it is, has already shown it’s not afraid to hit back where it hurts. In the past, they’ve targeted Kentucky bourbon with retaliatory tariffs, causing exports to plummet. Now, with Trump threatening even more tariffs, the bourbon industry is bracing for another round of pain. And who could have seen this coming? Oh, right. Everyone.
The article quotes Kentucky distillers and lawmakers—many of whom are Republicans—expressing their dismay. “Devastating to my state,” says one. “Catastrophic,” says another. It’s almost as if they didn’t realize that trade wars have consequences. Who knew that slapping tariffs on other countries might lead to them slapping tariffs right back? Oh, wait. Economists knew. Business leaders knew. Pretty much anyone with a basic understanding of global trade knew.
But hey, let’s not let facts get in the way of a good old-fashioned MAGA rally. Kentucky voters handed Trump a landslide victory in both 2016 and 2020, seemingly unfazed by the warnings that his trade policies could come back to bite them. And now, as the bourbon industry faces the prospect of losing one of its biggest export markets, those same voters are left to wonder: “Why is this happening to us?”
The answer, dear Kentuckians, is simple: you voted for it. You cheered for the man who promised to “win” trade wars, even as experts warned they’d be messy and costly. You ignored the fact that global trade is a delicate dance, not a WWE smackdown. And now, as the bourbon barrels pile up and the export numbers drop, you’re learning the hard way that tariffs aren’t just something that happens to other people.
So, here’s to you, Kentucky. May your bourbon be strong, your tariffs be few, and your future voting decisions be a little more informed. Cheers!
