Republicans in US Congress sweat Trump tariffs' hit to retirees, a critical constituency

• Summary

• Congressional Republicans worry about tariffs' toll ahead of midterm elections
• Older voters crucial for Republican victories
• Poll shows older Americans support long-term benefits despite short-term pain

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - Republicans in Congress are worried that the market rout sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs is taking a heavy toll on retirees and people approaching retirement age - a critical constituency for their party.

Stocks have plummeted in the week since Trump kicked off a trade war with the U.S.' major trading partners while Treasuries have also been hit with fresh selling pressure, weighing on the private 401(k) accounts and other investments Americans rely on to fund their retirements.

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Some Republican lawmakers have expressed worry this week about the hit to Americans' investments ahead of next year's midterm elections, when control of both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs.

"People are going to look at their 401(k) statements. They did vote for President Trump and they voted for me. ... I'm just trying to figure out if they are going to feel good about this," said Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of seven Senate Republicans who have signed on to a bipartisan bill that would give Congress the authority to review and override new tariffs.

Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana expressed similar concern.

"It's not fun. I don't like it. I like it when the market goes up," Kennedy told reporters. He said he wants to give Trump's gambit a chance, but that the president ought to do a better job of informing the public about his short-term goals.

"We don't know how long it'll take (to see positive results), we don't know what the short-term consequences will be," Kennedy said. "We don't know if the medicine will be worse than the disease."