President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Republicans on Wednesday after six members of his party broke ranks and voted with Democrats to overturn his tariffs on Canada. The House passed the resolution 219-211, prompting Trump to vow electoral retribution.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” the president declared.
With a narrow four-seat House majority and midterm elections looming, Trump’s message was unmistakable. He expects full party unity on his trade agenda, or consequences will follow.
The Republicans who voted for the anti-tariff resolution include Thomas Massie (KY), Don Bacon (NE), Kevin Kiley (CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Dan Newhouse (WA), and Jeff Hurd (CO). Most of the group either isn’t seeking re-election or has clashed with Trump before.
Rep. Hurd’s office defended the vote, saying his Colorado constituents have suffered from the tariffs and that he is standing with farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. Hurd’s district is considered “likely Republican” by Cook Political Report.
Rep. Bacon, who is retiring, responded bluntly: “Folks should vote their conscience and do what is best for our country. We are an independent branch of government.”
The remaining Republicans—Massie, Kiley, Fitzpatrick, and Newhouse—have drawn Trump’s ire before. Massie has repeatedly challenged the administration, prompting Trump to endorse primary challenger Ed Gallrein. Fitzpatrick joined Massie in opposing Trump’s landmark “Big, Beautiful Bill” last summer.
Kiley’s situation may prove the most politically volatile. Though Trump recently praised him for authoring a bill to penalize nonprofits involved in violent riots, Kiley’s district was reshaped by California’s redistricting, placing his re-election in doubt.
Despite the House vote, the resolution remains largely symbolic. Even if the Senate approves it, Trump would need to sign it into law—a highly unlikely outcome given his stance.
Trump maintains that tariffs are a pillar of his economic strategy. “TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege,” he said.
The president has floated a 100% tariff on Canadian goods and even threatened to halt construction of a bridge linking Ontario and Detroit. He blasted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for recent trade talks with China, warning, “China will eat Canada alive… destroy their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.”
The intra-party tension over tariffs reflects deeper divides within the GOP on trade, but Trump made clear: stray from the “America First” path, and face the consequences.
The post Trump: Republicans Who Vote Against Tariffs Will ‘Suffer The Consequences Come Election Time’ appeared first on Real News Now.
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