Trump's Mexican tariffs expose administration rifts

But they also contend that the issue also has to be viewed through the lens of the 2020 election campaign, where a continued hard line on immigration will be a central part of the president’s appeal.“This is definitely a victory for Navarro and Stephen Miller, but this is also a victory for the campaign team, which can use this as another base issue,” said one GOP strategist with ties to the White House who asked for anonymity to speak candidly.It throws a wrench into the administration’s biggest legislative priority: passage of Trump’s revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has been spearheaded by Lighthizer.The top trade official had formed a solid working relationship with Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump antagonizes both parties on trade Trump's surprise trade strategy threatens new NAFTA 20 percent of Americans can't define 'socialism' even as it's become the focus of 2020 MORE (D-Calif.) that many in the administration and on K Street believed was yielding progress toward pushing the agreement through Congress.They now fear that Trump’s new tariffs, combined with the White House’s decision to  formally start the clock on the legislative process over Pelosi’s objections, could stymie that progress, with one industry source calling the moves “a one-two gut punch.”Lighthizer was reportedly unenthusiastic about the decision to pressure Democrats on NAFTA, a strategy that is said to be favored by Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump launching 2020 campaign on June 18 with Florida rally Trump announces tariffs on Mexico over immigration White House starts clock on approval for new NAFTA MORE’s team, according to The Wall Street Journal.The Republican National Committee, which is closely allied with the White House, and the House GOP Conference both blasted out press releases this week accusing Pelosi of dragging her feet on approving the agreement.White House counselor Kellyanne ConwayKellyanne Elizabeth ConwayTrump campaign manager calls Amash 'Phony,' 'Grandstanding Swamp Creature' Kellyanne Conway: 'Amash can do what he wants' Kellyanne Conway dismisses Hatch Act violation: 'Let me know when the jail sentence starts' MORE downplayed those fears, telling reporters “we are fully confident that [the trade deal] could pass the House.”Although Trump has pushed for tariffs on Mexico for months, administration officials and industry groups described a slapdash rollout that some believe helped contribute to the widespread backlash against the plan.The White House issued a presidential statement and held a conference call for reporters after Trump announced the tariffs by tweet.