President Donald Trump issued a stark warning that there will be “consequences” for Republican lawmakers who sided with Democrats to block his tariff policy on Canada.
The president’s threat signals potential primary challenges against GOP defectors ahead of the next election cycle.
Moments before his agenda suffered a setback on Capitol Hill, Trump made clear that opposition to his tariff strategy would carry political consequences.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The president defended tariffs as central to both economic strength and national security.
“In addition, TARIFFS have given us Great National Security because the mere mention of the word has Countries agreeing to our strongest wishes,” Trump continued.
“TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege.”
Democrats Force Vote with Help from GOP Holdouts
Democrats successfully triggered a House vote to reverse Trump’s national emergency tied to the northern border using a privileged resolution.
The move was an uncommon maneuver that bypasses majority leadership.
Six Republicans joined Democrats in backing the measure: Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), voted with most Republicans.
The resolution passed 219–211, handing Democrats and their Republican allies a temporary victory against the president’s trade and border enforcement strategy.
GOP Defectors Offer Constitutional and Policy Justifications
Some Republicans who voted against Trump’s policy argued their decision centered on congressional authority and changing conditions tied to fentanyl enforcement.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) said:
“This was a resolution regarding the emergency declared by the president over fentanyl from Canada.
“Congress has an obligation under the National Emergencies Act to evaluate every six months if the emergency still exists.
“Canada has now significantly cracked down on fentanyl, so there’s no basis to extend the emergency another six months.”
Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO) framed his vote as a constitutional matter.
“Today’s vote is grounded first and foremost in the Constitution,” Hurd claimed.
“Article I gives Congress the authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations and to levy tariffs.
“Over time, Congress has delegated limited authority to the executive branch, particularly in matters involving national emergencies.
“But those delegations were never intended to serve as a permanent vehicle for sweeping, long-term trade policy,” he said.
“If we normalize broad emergency trade powers today, we should expect that a future president — of either party — will rely on the same authority in ways many of us would strongly oppose.
“Institutional consistency matters.
“The Constitution does not shift depending on who occupies the White House.
“My responsibility is to defend the separation of powers regardless of political convenience.”
Tariffs Tied to Border Security and Drug Enforcement
President Trump imposed the tariffs through a February 2025 executive order, adding a 25% duty on most goods from Canada and Mexico, with Canadian energy subject to a 15% tariff.
The White House said the move was intended to pressure both countries to do more to stop illegal immigration and the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
Opponents, including Democrats and their allies, argued the tariffs risk harming a key U.S. trading partner and American consumers.
But Trump and supporters maintain the policy is necessary to confront fentanyl trafficking and protect national security.
Senate Showdown Looms
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where some Republicans have previously joined Democrats in opposing Trump’s tariff strategy despite repeated warnings from the president.
Trump’s latest primary threat signals the political stakes are rising sharply, framing the tariff battle not only as an economic fight, but as a defining test of loyalty within the Republican Party as Democrats and their allies push to dismantle one of the president’s core America First policies.
READ MORE – Ilhan Omar Suggests Trump Face Death Penalty: ‘In Somalia They Execute Pedophiles’
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