Senate blocks Kaine-sponsored bid to stop Trump’s tariffs

Senate Republicans narrowly voted down a resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine on Wednesday that would have blocked global tariffs announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month, giving the president a modest win as lawmakers in both parties have remained skeptical of his trade agenda.

The 49-49 vote came weeks after the Senate approved a resolution that would have thwarted Trump’s ability to impose tariffs on Canada. That measure passed 51-48 with the votes of four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky. But McConnell — who has been sharply critical of the tariffs but had not said how he would vote — and Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse were absent Wednesday, denying Democrats the votes for passage.

“It was unfortunate that two senators were not present yesterday,” U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia’s senior Democratic senator, said during a media call Thursday. “I don’t believe they’ve changed their views, so when they return, we’re trying to find a way to bring this back up on the floor of the Senate.”

Supporters of the legislation said their primary aim was to put Republicans on the record either way and to try to reassert congressional powers.

“The Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness,” said Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a lead sponsor of the resolution.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the dismal economic numbers should be a “wakeup call” to Republicans.

Wary of a rebuke to Trump, GOP leaders encouraged their conference not to vote for the resolution, even as many of them remain unconvinced about the tariffs.

Republican colleagues, Warner said Thursday, ask him privately to continue speaking out about actions taken by the Trump administration, topics ranging from tariffs to mishandling classified information.

“I hope and pray for the sake of our country that they will stop giving me private reassurances or private reassurances to Tim that he’s doing the right thing, and find their voice, find their courage,” Warner said. “If they really believe these things, don’t tell me privately. Stand up on the floor of the Senate and vote your conscience.”

Warner empathized that opponents to the administration’s policies often face retaliation from the president and from Elon Musk’s followers on X. Warner noted the arson at the home of Pennsylvania’s governor in April. According to media reports, the man arrested on arson charges expressed anger about the war in Gaza.

“I believe these actions are [inflamed] by oftentimes some of the commentary that takes place on social media,” Warner said.

Collins said the close vote on Wednesday’s resolution “demonstrates that there is unease with the president’s plan. It’s partially the president’s plan is still evolving, but many of us are hearing from employers back home about the impact of the tariffs in a negative way.”

As he travels the commonwealth, Warner said, his constituents talk to him about their concerns over trade.

“I hear from Virginia small businesses in particular [about] how their businesses will be disrupted,” Warner said. “Across the board costs are going up, and remember, these tariffs are taxes on American families.”

Some Republicans argued that the vote was a political stunt. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he backs separate legislation by fellow Republican, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, that would give Congress increased power over determining tariffs.

Several Republicans defended Trump’s tariffs — and said they were willing to give him time to figure it out.

“People are willing to give the president an opportunity to prove that the new system works,” said Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn said the vote shows that senators “believe that the President’s policies deserve to be tried and see if they’re successful.”

However, Democrats say the Republicans’ failure to stand up to Trump could have dire consequences. “The only thing Donald Trump’s tariffs have succeeded in is raising the odds of recession and sending markets into a tailspin,” said Schumer. “Today, they have to choose – stick with Trump or stand with your states.”

Kaine posted on X following the vote: “On the same day the American economy is announced as shrinking due to Trump chaos, the GOP forces the VEEP to come break a tie to greenlight idiotic Trump tariffs. They REALLY want to own the damage to everyday folks, farms and small bizness.”

The Democratic resolution forced a vote under a statute that allows them to try to terminate the national economic emergency Trump used to levy the tariffs.

Republicans held a procedural vote after the tied vote to ensure that Democrats could not bring the resolution up again, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters afterward. Vice President J.D. Vance came to the Capitol to break the tie and ensure they dismissed the resolution for good.

Trump has tried to reassure voters that his tariffs will not provoke a recession as his administration has focused on China, raising tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% even as he paused the others. He told his Cabinet Wednesday morning that his tariffs meant China was “having tremendous difficulty because their factories are not doing business.”

He also said the U.S. does not really need imports from the world’s dominant manufacturer. “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls,” he said. “So maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally.”