On Wednesday evening, Vice President JD Vance made a significant trip to Capitol Hill to cast a crucial tie-breaking vote in the Senate, effectively halting a bipartisan effort aimed at rebuking President Donald Trump’s controversial trade policy. The Senate had previously rejected a resolution that sought to block Trump’s global tariffs by revoking the emergency order he is using to implement them.
The resolution faced a critical setback when two senators, GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, were absent from the vote. This absence allowed the resolution to fail with a tie of 49-49. In response, Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved to prevent tariff opponents from bringing the resolution back for consideration in the future, which necessitated Vance's appearance at the US Capitol to finalize the decision.
This vote marked only the second time that Vice President Vance has exercised his tie-breaking authority. Throughout his second term, President Trump has implemented historic tariffs on a wide range of imports. Notably, he has imposed a 10% tariff on nearly all goods entering the United States, alongside a 25% tariff on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, as well as various items imported from Mexico and Canada. Additionally, Trump has placed a staggering 145% tariff on most Chinese goods, representing one of the most substantial trade actions in American history.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a co-sponsor of the resolution to block the tariffs, stated that Vance’s tie-breaking vote worked in favor of the resolution's supporters. He remarked, “They are so dead set on this tariff idiocy that is wrecking the economy that they’re going to bring the vice president over to completely own it. Great, let them do it. The American public needs to know who to blame for this.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized Republicans for preventing a future vote on the matter, asserting that “Thune and the Republicans are working to keep Trump’s tariffs in place.” Despite support from some Republican senators, including Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, the resolution failed to secure the necessary votes due to the key absences on Wednesday.
Senator McConnell, who was unable to vote due to illness, has consistently opposed tariffs, believing they act as a tax increase affecting all American households and businesses. His spokesman emphasized that McConnell advocates for free trade and does not support actions that could escalate a trade war.
Even if the resolution had passed, it was unlikely to advance in the House of Representatives. Earlier this year, Speaker Mike Johnson included provisions in a rule that would prevent consideration of the resolution until September 30. The Senate had earlier taken symbolic action to condemn Trump’s tariffs on Canada, while House Republicans employed similar procedural tactics to ensure the resolution could not be deliberated in their chamber.
Throughout this ongoing controversy, President Trump has remained steadfast in his position, vowing to veto any resolution that seeks to challenge his tariff policies. As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of Vance's tie-breaking vote and the ongoing trade tensions will remain critical topics in the political discourse.
This article has been updated to reflect additional developments. CNN’s Dave Goldman contributed to this report.
