The House on Wednesday approved a measure expressing disapproval of President Donald Trump‘s tariffs on Canada, a setback for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and an unusual Republican criticism of the president’s key economic strategy.
The resolution was passed in the House with a vote of 219-211, with a handful of Republicans breaking ranks to support it. Only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, opposed the bill.
The tariff resolution, put forward by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., was debated a day after a procedural vote aimed at restricting House challenges to Trump’s tariffs failed, despite backing from three Republican members.
Trump cautioned Republicans during the voting process that there would be repercussions for defying him on tariffs.
“Any Republican, whether in the House or the Senate, who votes against TARIFFS will face serious consequences come Election time, including Primaries!” Trump stated on his TRUTH social account during the vote. “TARIFFS have provided us with Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be accountable for eroding this privilege.”
The gamble was worthwhile for some Republicans, particularly those in battleground districts where tariffs are unpopular.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who is stepping down at the end of his term and supported the anti-tariff resolution, informed reporters earlier in the day that the White House attempted but failed to change his vote.
“I voted based on principle,” Bacon remarked about a procedural vote on Tuesday that allowed the resolution to advance. “They tried to offer incentives for Nebraska, but I questioned what about the other 49 states?”
The Democratic side of the House chamber erupted in applause upon the passing of the resolution.
“The Speaker continues to abandon his responsibilities, surrendering Congress’s Article I power to Donald Trump,” Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned in a statement posted on X on Tuesday. “Republicans now must make a clear choice: either publicly join Democrats to abolish these cost-increasing tariffs, or continue to compel American families to bear the burden.”
The proposal is now set to go to the Senate, which passed similar proposals last year.
“Congress has made its stance clear with bipartisan agreement: It’s time to provide relief to Americans and abolish Trump’s tariff tax,” stated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “This cost-increasing tariff tax is driving up expenses on everything from grocery prices to energy bills — all because Trump opted for chaos instead of reason. It’s time to bring relief.”
The vote regarding Trump’s tariffs forced House Republicans to choose between loyalty to the president and nullifying an economic policy that many within the GOP do not favor.
Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., defied Trump and GOP leaders on Tuesday by aligning with every Democrat to overturn a rule that would have barred House votes on Trump’s tariffs until July 31.
“I dislike pausing the essential work of the House, but Congress needs the opportunity to debate tariffs. Tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and constitute a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are enduring,” Bacon posted on X following the vote on Tuesday.
Given the extremely narrow GOP majority in the House, Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote if all Democrats are present and support the resolution to remove Trump’s Canada tariff.
Still, the initiative is likely more symbolic. Even if the Senate endorses Meeks’ resolution, Trump would likely veto the measure.
“This is the reality of operating with a slim majority,” Johnson stated in a Wednesday morning appearance on Fox Business. “I believe this is a significant misstep. I don’t think we should pursue limiting the president’s authority while he is engaged in negotiating America-first trade agreements globally.”
