Key facts
- John Sununu listed policy disagreements with President Trump at a New Hampshire town hall.
- Sununu criticized Trump's trade war with Canada and tariffs on building materials.
- Sununu opposed entering Iran without a plan for the Strait of Hormuz.
- Sununu opposed a proposed $5,000 one-time payment and $1.8 billion victims fund.
- Sununu cited his 2005 opposition to the Patriot Act.
- A University of New Hampshire poll found 67% of respondents disapprove of Trump's job performance.
Former Senator John Sununu (R-N.H.) used a New Hampshire town hall to detail his policy disagreements with President Donald Trump, particularly concerning trade and foreign policy. Sununu, who is running against Representative Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in the upcoming midterm elections, stated that his criticisms have been consistent for the past 10 months.
Sununu specifically criticized Trump's "trade war with Canada" and tariffs on building materials, calling them a "mistake." He also expressed reservations about the administration's approach to Iran, stating it was an error "to go into Iran without a fixed proposal and plan for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open." Furthermore, Sununu opposed a recently proposed $5,000 one-time payment and a $1.8 billion victims fund.
He drew a parallel to his past political stances, recalling his opposition to the Patriot Act in 2005 alongside five other Republican senators, asserting that their concerns about surveillance powers were ultimately validated. Sununu suggested that his positions reflect the views of most people in New Hampshire.
Sununu's stance aligns with other Republican candidates in competitive races who have sought to differentiate themselves from Trump, especially regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran. Representatives Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin have previously called for an end to the conflict.
Recent polling indicates a challenging race for Sununu. A University of New Hampshire poll from September found that 67% of respondents disapproved of Trump's overall job performance, with only 32% approving. In the gubernatorial race, Sununu is trailing Pappas by 5 percentage points, with 45% support compared to Pappas's 50%, according to New York Times/Siena polling.