The California Republican, in a pen and pad meeting with reporters, tried to deflect multiple questions about whether Congress would pass a bill making Trump’s tariff proposal law. Such protectionist ideas are antithetical to traditional Republican values of free enterprise and competition. And while McCarthy refrained from criticizing Trump’s idea explicitly, it was clear it’s not an idea he’s endorsing.

“I think the point the president-elect was trying to make was he wants to create jobs in America,” McCarthy said of Trump’s latest comments about tariffs. “Today, the best way to make that change is through tax reform … I think there are other ways to achieve what the president elect is talking about, but the only way you can do any of this is you’ve got to have tax reform.”

Asked if Trump’s tariff plan made him uneasy, McCarthy merely added: “I don’t want to get into some kind of trade war … I think creating an incentive where you have a tax structure [that’s attractive to companies ] in American, that means lower corporate taxes, you won’t have” companies leaving.