In a rare display of bipartisan dissent, six House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a measure aimed at rolling back President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a cornerstone of his second-term trade agenda.
The vote, which GOP leaders had sought to prevent, highlights growing unease within the Republican Party over the economic impact of Trump’s escalating trade policies.
While the president continues to wield strong influence over his party, the defection signals cracks in support as some lawmakers respond to mounting pressure from constituents affected by the tariffs.The six Republicans who broke ranks were Reps.
Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, Kevin Kiley, Jeff Hurd, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Dan Newhouse. Trump quickly reacted on Truth Social, warning:
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson sought to downplay tensions, telling reporters after a White House visit that the president was “not upset” and retains veto authority.
“It’s not going to affect or change his policy. He can veto these things if they come to it,” Johnson said, later describing the vote as a “fruitless exercise,” noting there is no two-thirds majority in either chamber to override a potential veto.
Despite the likely presidential veto, the vote marks a significant moment of GOP dissent. Democrats advanced the measure through a procedural mechanism allowing tariff-related resolutions to pass with a simple majority. Similar votes targeting Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and other “liberation day” tariffs are expected in the coming weeks.
The Senate has already approved a comparable measure to roll back the Canada tariffs, though final legislation would almost certainly face a presidential veto.Several Republican lawmakers cited economic pressures in their districts as the basis for their votes.
Rep. Jeff Hurd (R) said farmers and steel manufacturers in his district were directly affected.“At the end of the day, I looked at the Constitution, I looked at what was in the best interest of my district, and I took the vote,” Hurd told CNN.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), who is retiring at the end of his term, pointed to Washington state’s deep trade ties with Canada and rising costs for fertilizer and other agricultural inputs.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), also retiring, framed his vote as both an economic and constitutional issue, arguing that Congress—not the White House—should hold primary authority over tariffs.“He needs to know that we’re not a rubber stamp,” Bacon said, adding that other Republicans privately share his concerns but hesitate to publicly oppose the president.
Earlier in the day, Bacon suggested as many as 30 Republicans might back the measure. In the end, only six crossed party lines under mounting pressure from GOP leadership and the White House.
