For the US president, tariffs are a key instrument of his foreign policy. In October, it raised tariffs on Canada by 10 percentage points.
On his platform Truth Social Trump harshly criticized apostates. “Any Republican who votes against tariffs will face serious repercussions in the election,” wrote the US president.
Trump is threatening rioters — but that doesn't change the fact that there are growing divisions within his own party.
Six Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, which now goes to the Senate. The president will almost certainly veto it. The leadership of the Republican Party tried hard to prevent the vote.
“Tariffs have kept us safe because the mere mention of them causes other countries to agree to our demands,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
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“I've never met a Republican who supported tariffs.”
Democrats want to force more votes against tariffs in the coming weeks. In their opinion, the president has no right to use them as a means of political or economic pressure. They demand, among other things, the abolition of tariffs on Mexico and other countries close to the US.
Republican congressmen Kevin Kiley of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Jeff Hurd of Colorado and Dan Newhouse of Washington voted in favor of the resolution. Congressman Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat to vote against the measure.
The driving force of the Republican revolt against their own president is Don Bacon, who will no longer run for election in the fall. In an interview with CNN, Bacon emphasized that Congress, not the White House, has the authority to decide on tariffs. “He must know [Trump]”that we are not just puppets.” The Supreme Court is also currently dealing with the issue of the legality of Trump's tariffs.
Don BaconTom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/Contributor/Getty Images
Trump's tariffs have proven politically unpopular over the past year. House Speaker Mike Johnson tried to block the vote entirely, fearing political consequences for members of his party.
Both Hurd and Newhouse said they voted for the resolution because the tariffs hurt businesses in their states — and because they believed Congress should have control over trade policy.
“Congress should not limit its constitutional authority to impose tariffs,” Newshouse wrote in a social media post. “While I understand the president's approach of using tariffs as a leverage to secure more trade deals, the fact remains that the tariffs imposed on Canada have harmed the people of Washington state.”
Republican leaders have urged party members to reserve judgment on the tariffs until the Supreme Court decides whether Trump overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. A ruling could be made as early as next week.
Democrats believe they now have a political weapon they can use against Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
“By forcing this vote, you're not only making a few Republicans oppose the president's disastrous trade policies, but you're also showing that the costs of everything are getting out of control and hard to ignore,” said Republican Rep. Morgan McGarvey.
Wednesday's vote is just one of several Democrats plan to hold.
“I've never met a Republican in this town [Waszyngtonie]who has been a supporter of tariffs since Reagan,” said Congressman Richard Neal. “And now there are new tariffs every day. I think we're going to start in Canada, go to Mexico and continue from there [blokujące nakładanie ceł] on all fronts.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
