Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Monday that President Donald Trump will have to shoulder the blame for economic hardship if his tariff strategy fails. (Watch the video below.)

“Do you think it’s Donald Trump’s economy now?” CNN’s Kasie Hunt asked him.

“Oh, I think it is,” Kennedy replied. “There’s no question. I think once he decided to add the tariffs, clearly, I mean, he will be held responsible ― as he should ― whether it turns out good or it turns out badly.”

That’s blunt talk from an election denier who got Trump’s endorsement for his 2022 reelection bid and sides with the president on many issues.

The short term of Trump’s aggressive taxes has been disastrous. Kennedy called it “painful” in his CNN interview. Markets reached historic lows after Trump imposed blanket global tariffs and threatened bigger ones to ratchet up a trade war.

Stocks rebounded some Tuesday morning while commerce tensions still ran high. American consumers will likely be the ultimate victims of the taxes by paying higher prices.

Kennedy struck a dramatic tone last week in warning of the tariff consequences.

“In the long run, we’re all dead,” he said. “Short run matters, too. Nobody knows what the impact of these tariffs is going to be on the economy.”