The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted against a resolution that would have essentially overturned President Trump’s 10% tariffs on all imported products, with just three Republicans joining Democrats in favor.
The vote was a victory for Trump and Senate Republican leaders, who pressured legislators against supporting the resolution, giving Democrats a messaging advantage, Axios reported.
Democrats’ attempts to approve the proposal were hampered by the absence of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who was returning from South Korea.
Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell did not vote, but his office said in a statement that he has “been consistent in opposing tariffs and that a trade war is not in the best interest of American households and businesses. He believes that tariffs are a tax increase on everybody.”
Senate Republican leadership pushed hard to persuade moderates to vote against the resolution, noting that the current proposal would also eliminate the harsh tariffs placed on China.
A handful of Republican senators helped Democrats pass a similar resolution earlier this month that would have restored Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations, Senate GOP leadership claimed that Wednesday’s proposal was not the same as the one targeting tariffs on Canada.
Senate Democrats are using one of their few weapons to take direct blows at the White House’s trade policy.
Lawmakers may unilaterally compel votes to reject the administration’s declaration of a national emergency. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) utilized this strategy to force the vote on Wednesday.
The Democratic strategy is focusing on Republican Party divisions over price rises and how extensively Trump is attempting to expand presidential powers.
The proposal opposes Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on both friends and rivals.
“I think these are more symbolic votes that Democrats are trying to engineer. Republicans are trying to give the administration, as we said, before, some space to figure out if they can get some good deals and awaiting the results of that,” Thune told reporters ahead of the vote.
Paul suggested that the issue could resurface again down the road, particularly if the economy worsens.
“It’s still a debate worth having, because, you know, if a month from now, we have massive tariffs go on and we have a massive sell off in the stock market, and we didn’t have a first good quarter in growth, and if it’s worse again in the second quarter, people would start asking, “Is it good policy, or is it a bad policy?’”
This comes as President Trump’s approval rating has risen to near-record levels, despite several days of outrage from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and mainstream media outlets over the president’s ambitious trade changes.
Trump’s support rating increased even after sweeping tariffs were imposed on dozens of trading partners on April 2, according to a new poll conducted by J.L. Partners in collaboration with the Daily Mail.
The study indicated that Trump’s approval rating increased to 53 percent, a four-point improvement from last week’s poll, when it was 49 percent.
Breaking down the numbers further, Trump’s favorability rating among voters aged 18 to 29 has improved by a wonderful 13 points since March 7.
The study implies Trump is building on the tremendous support he earned from the group in the November presidential election, when voters aged 18 to 29 switched 10 points in Trump’s favor after heavily supporting Joe Biden in 2020.
The president’s support rating increased by six percentage points among registered Democrats and independents, according to the study. The president’s favorability among black voters has increased by 17 points since last week’s survey.
