Speaker Mike Johnson's office abruptly scrapped a planned congressional staff delegation to Europe that was set to include stops at a Ferrari factory, luxury goods companies, and France's Champagne region—a trip organized to study the effects of President Trump's tariffs and tax policies, according to a draft itinerary obtained by NBC News.
The weeklong visit to Italy and France, scheduled for later this month, was designed as a fact-finding mission for senior aides from both parties. The cancellation came shortly after NBC began making inquiries about the trip, with Johnson's office citing a scheduling conflict.
Curt Beaulieu, Johnson's senior policy and tax adviser, was tapped to lead the delegation, which was expected to include senior congressional staff from both parties. The trip was to begin in Vicenza, Italy, where staffers would meet with U.S. military personnel stationed there, before moving on to industries entangled in Trump's trade agenda.
“The purpose of the trip is to engage European and U.S. government and industry officials related to the impact of U.S. tariffs and taxes,” the draft itinerary stated. Such official congressional and staff delegations—known as CODELs and STAFFDELs—are routine professional exchanges meant to build ties with global leaders and advocates.
The itinerary included a tour of a Ferrari factory near Bologna, a Barilla facility in Parma, and meetings with luxury goods companies in Milan or Florence. In France, staffers were slated to visit the Champagne region and meet with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for talks on taxes and trade. Johnson's office also said Michelin, L'Oréal Paris, and drugmaker Sanofi were among companies considered for the schedule.
The proposed trip comes as Trump's tariffs remain a central issue in the broader debate over prices and trade ahead of November's elections. The president earlier this year threatened a 200 percent tariff on Champagne from France after President Emmanuel Macron declined an invitation to join the White House Board of Peace, which oversees the Gaza recovery plan amid the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
The cancellation has drawn attention to the delicate balance lawmakers face in conducting oversight and diplomacy while avoiding optics that could be politically damaging, especially with the midterm elections approaching. The trip's luxury components—Ferrari, Champagne, high-end goods—were particularly ripe for criticism, even though such trips are common and often include meetings with U.S. allies and trading partners.
Johnson's office defended the proposed travel, saying congressional staff from both parties routinely visit U.S. allies and trading partners to meet with government and industry officials. However, the abrupt cancellation suggests the political risk outweighed the intended policy benefits, especially with voters focused on inflation and trade policies.
The episode also highlights the ongoing tension between the administration's aggressive tariff stance and the need for congressional engagement with European partners. As Trump continues to use tariffs as leverage in trade disputes, the cancellation may signal a reluctance to spotlight the impact of those policies on American consumers and businesses.
