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In a significant move on Wednesday, six Republican members of the House aligned with Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at repealing tariffs imposed on Canada by former President Trump, marking a setback for both Trump and the GOP leadership in the House.
The resolution was passed with a 219-211 vote, coming hot on the heels of a Republican internal dispute regarding the administration’s trade policy, which had flared up earlier in the week.
Among the Republicans breaking ranks were Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Kevin Kiley of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Dan Newhouse of Washington. They joined nearly all Democrats in backing the resolution introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who serves as the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The proposed resolution seeks to end Trump’s invocation of a national emergency as a basis for imposing stringent tariffs on Canadian imports.
Notably, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine stood as the lone Democrat opposing the measure, casting a “no” vote.
“We have a trade agreement, and I think they’ve been a good ally, and I think they’ve been unfairly attacked by the administration, and so I’m going to oppose it – I’m going to oppose the tariffs,” Bacon told The Hill before the vote.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has argued on X that “taxing authority is vested in the House of Representatives, not the Executive.”
Bacon, Massie and Kiley all voted with Democrats to block a procedural rule on Tuesday evening, due to language in it that would have barred a member’s ability to call snap votes to repeal Trump’s tariffs.
The failed rule vote on Tuesday paved the way for a slew of snap repeal votes to be called up — starting with Wednesday’s.
Meeks’ resolution now heads to the Senate, where it appears likely to pass. In October, four Republicans joined all Democrats in a vote to terminate Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a measure led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Those GOP lawmakers were Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
While it’s presumed Trump will veto Meeks’ measure, Democrats are likely to capitalize on the president having to confront major pushback on his strategy of using tariffs to impose American demands on other countries.
In an apparent nod to that, Trump took to Truth Social as the vote was wrapping up Wednesday to issue a primary threat.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” he wrote.
He added, “TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege.”
Meeks after the vote praised the six Republicans who broke with their party.
“They sincerely, I think, voted for it because it was important for their constituency, and they were standing up to, you know, Donald King – Donald Trump, who thinks he’s king,” Meeks said. “To say, ‘I’m going to do what’s best for my constituents first.’ And so I thank them for the courage and what they did, and I hope that they will be with us as we look at other tariff bills that was put forward by the President, as we then continue to try to have a vote to discuss those issues.”
He also blasted Trump’s tariffs on Canada, calling the country “one of our strongest allies.”
“Canadians gave their life for us and various people and all the President has done from the time that he became president, was insult calling them (the) 51st state, put these 35% tariffs, not allowing the bridge to open up between the United States and Canada.”
Meeks also has resolutions to terminate the national emergencies justifying Trump’s tariffs on other countries, such as Mexico, and the broad “Liberation Day” tariffs across the globe.
Meeks had previously said in a statement that Trump’s tariffs are “driving up prices, killing jobs, and threatening our economy. This isn’t what Americans voted for.”
Laura Kelly contributed to this report. Updated at 7:21 p.m.