GOP Defectors Push Senate Resolution to Cancel Trump Tariffs, Defying Veto Warning

The Senate advanced a Democrat-led resolution on Wednesday to undo former President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, with a handful of Republicans breaking ranks to support the measure. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., aims to end the emergency declaration Trump made concerning the northern border earlier this year.

Despite warnings from the White House about a potential veto, the resolution passed with a tight 51–48 vote, thanks to Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky. Their decision to side with Democrats drew sharp criticism from Trump loyalists.

"As I have always warned, tariffs are bad policy, and trade wars with our partners hurt working people most. Tariffs drive up the cost of goods and services," McConnell remarked, standing firm on his long-held stance against tariffs.

However, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso blasted the resolution, describing it as a political stunt designed to undermine Trump's efforts to secure the northern border. "Speaker Johnson already declared Senator Kaine’s resolution dead on arrival in the House of Representatives. It will never make it to President Trump’s desk," he stated confidently.

Kaine defended his resolution, citing the Trump administration’s own threat assessment report on fentanyl, which, according to him, did not mention Canada as a source of the illicit substance. "Trump’s order is a blatant abuse of his authority, and it is critical that Congress push back before he inflicts even more damage to our economy and to the relationship with one of our top trading partners and closest allies," Kaine argued.

The privileged nature of the resolution required it to be brought to the floor for a vote, and its passage only needed a simple majority of 51 senators. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize the Republican defectors, urging them to "get on the Republican bandwagon" and support his tariffs, which he claims are aimed at penalizing Canada for allowing fentanyl to flow into the U.S.

Senator Collins expressed her concerns about the economic impact of the tariffs on her constituents. "The price hikes that will happen for Maine families, every time they go to the grocery store, they fill their gas tank, they filled their heating oil tank, if these tariffs go into effect, will be so harmful," she said, adding that such increases would disproportionately hurt those who can least afford them.

Rand Paul, a long-time critic of tariffs, echoed similar sentiments. "I think tariffs on trade between the U.S. and Canada will threaten our country with a recession. I think they're a terrible idea economically and will lead to higher prices. Tariffs are simply taxes," he told reporters.

While the resolution's future in the House of Representatives looks bleak, the Senate's vote signals growing bipartisan resistance to Trump's trade policies. The divide between Republicans over tariffs highlights ongoing tensions within the party, as some members prioritize economic concerns over loyalty to the former president.