Legislation

Senate Blocks Resolution to Overturn Tariffs

MAY 1 2025·Updated MAY 2 2025

Story

Above: U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the U.S. Capitol on April 29, 2025. Image credit: Drew Angerer/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan resolution aimed at blocking President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs when Vice President JD Vance cast his vote to break a 49-49 tie.
FOX News
CNN
Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined Democrats in support of the measure, which sought to end the national emergency declaration Trump used April 2 to impose 10% baseline tariffs on most imports. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) were absent from the vote.
FOX News
CNN
ap
The vote came the same day the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, the first drop in three years.
Axios
Daily Wire
Had the resolution passed the Senate, it faced significant obstacles in the GOP-led House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had previously inserted a provision into a rule blocking consideration of such measures until Sept. 30.
nytimes
Daily Wire
The Hill
Previously, an earlier Senate resolution in April sought to block Trump's 25% tariffs specifically on Canadian goods. It passed 51-48 with four Republicans joining Democrats, but that measure stalled in the House.
Deseret News
NBC
Trump, who promised to veto the most recent resolution if it had reached his desk, previously announced a 90-day pause on some of his new tariffs shortly after their initial announcement. Administration officials have been working to negotiate deals with various countries.
NBC
Daily Wire

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The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Democrats and turncoat Republicans' efforts to stop the Trump agenda have failed again. As the administration has made clear, tariffs are a necessary tool to address unfair trade practices and bring countries to the negotiating table. Coming off an election victory in November, the administration needs space to negotiate better deals that will benefit American workers and the economy.

Daily Caller

Townhall

Anti-Trump narrative

Although this measure failed, it's crucial that Democrats keep pressing this issue in order to pressure Republicans. Democrats should force as many votes as necessary to get Republicans on the record in favor or against tariffs as Americans begin seeing prices rise. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority in this realm and stop Trump from crushing the U.S. economy.

nytimes

Axios