In a surprising display of bipartisanship, several Republican senators aligned with Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at blocking Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada. This rare rebuke of the president’s trade policy came just hours after Trump unveiled plans for sweeping import taxes affecting some of the nation’s largest trading partners. The Senate voted 51-48, with four Republicans—Susan Collins from Maine, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, and both Kentucky senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul—defying Trump's pressure campaign to support the measure.
The resolution was strategically pushed forward by Democrats using a procedural maneuver aimed at terminating the national emergency concerning fentanyl, which Trump has cited to justify the imposition of tariffs on Canada. Although Trump’s recent tariffs, announced during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, did not include additional levies on Canada, the Senate vote represents a significant bipartisan condemnation of the president’s escalating global trade war.
“Tariffs will hurt our families. Canada is not an enemy,” stated Senator Tim Kaine, the bill’s sponsor, during his floor speech. He emphasized the negative implications of labeling an ally as an adversary and the potential financial burdens on American families. “Let’s not impose punishing costs on American families at a time they can’t afford it,” he added, highlighting concerns for American small businesses and national security investments.
While many Republicans have shown varying degrees of discomfort regarding Trump’s trade restrictions—a departure from the traditional conservative support for free trade—few have been willing to openly oppose him. On the same day as the Senate vote, several GOP leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, were present at the Rose Garden, celebrating what Trump termed “liberation day” and endorsing the extensive tariffs designed to bolster American manufacturing.
Despite the Senate’s resolution, the likelihood of it passing through the Republican-controlled House and receiving Trump’s signature remains minimal. Nevertheless, it underscores the growing hesitation among Republicans regarding Trump’s vision for reshaping the U.S. economy through restrictive trade policies. Economists have raised alarms that such a strategy could lead to an economic contraction, prompting GOP senators to monitor the evolving situation closely.
Prior to the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota urged Republican senators to reject the resolution, arguing that the tariffs are essential for combating the flow of fentanyl from various sources. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticized the four GOP senators who opposed his tariffs, urging them to “get on the Republican bandwagon” and resist the Democratic push against penalizing Canada for fentanyl sales.
In defending her vote, Collins expressed concern that the tariffs would adversely impact working families in Maine, a state that shares a long border with Canada. “The price hikes that will happen for Maine families... will be so harmful,” she stated during her floor speech. She also pointed out that the majority of fentanyl entering the U.S. originates from the southern border, contradicting Trump’s claims.
Democrats are interpreting the Senate’s resolution as a sign that public sentiment is shifting against Trump’s agenda, citing recent strong performances in special elections, including a crucial victory in a Wisconsin state supreme court race. “The American people are seeing how bad Trump is,” remarked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Tariffs are a significant part of it, and they are not supporting people like Elon Musk and those who support Donald Trump.”
Furthermore, Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced plans to initiate a similar vote in the House regarding the tariffs, suggesting that the debate over Trump’s trade policies is far from over.
