President Trump is digging in, threatening to veto a Senate push to strip his emergency tariff powers. The bipartisan effort, led by Senators Ron Wyden and Rand Paul, aims to halt the national emergency declaration that fuels Trump’s aggressive trade policies.
The Daily Caller reported that the White House issued a stern warning on April 14, 2025, signaling Trump’s intent to block the Senate’s resolution. This resolution, S.J. Res. 49, seeks to end the emergency powers Trump declared on April 2, 2025, to impose sweeping tariffs on imports.
It’s a bold move by Congress to reclaim authority over trade, but Trump’s not budging. Trump’s emergency declaration targeted trade imbalances, which he claims weaken U.S. industry and threaten supply chains.
The tariffs, dubbed “Liberation Day” measures, aim to protect American workers and shrink the trade deficit. The administration argues these are critical for national and economic security.
Senators Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, and Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced S.J. Res.... 49 on April 8, 2025. Their resolution has garnered support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats like Tim Kaine and Elizabeth Warren.
The Senate could vote on the resolution as early as this week, needing only a simple majority to pass. Congress holds the power to force such votes to curb presidential overreach. Yet, the White House insists that scrapping the tariffs would undermine ongoing trade talks.
On April 8, 2025, Trump blasted GOP critics at a Republican dinner, accusing them of grandstanding. He warned that Congress taking over trade talks would “sell America fast.” His fiery rhetoric shows he’s ready to fight to keep his tariff leverage.
Despite the Senate’s push, Trump’s team claims tariffs are driving progress in trade negotiations. On April 9, 2025, Trump paused most country-specific tariffs, except for China, as over 75 nations signaled interest in new deals. This pause suggests the tariffs are forcing other countries to the table.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on April 17, 2025, said talks with South Korea were moving swiftly. Vice President JD Vance echoed this optimism on April 22, 2025, noting headway with India. These developments bolster Trump’s case that tariffs are working.
The White House Office of Management and Budget doubled down, stating that S.J. Res... 49 would harm U.S. security.
“Disturbing the conditions underlying these negotiations would signal to U.S. trading partners that they can continue to discriminate against U.S. exports,” the OMB declared. It’s a clear warning to Congress: back off.
Senator Rand Paul fired back, arguing that tariffs are taxes that only Congress should impose. “Abusing emergency powers to impose blanket tariffs not only drives up costs [...]
System: for American families but also tramples on the Constitution,” Paul stated on April 8, 2025. He insists Congress must restore its authority over trade policy.
Wyden, equally determined, vowed on April 10, 2025, to force a Senate vote to end Trump’s emergency powers. The resolution’s co-sponsors, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Peter Welch, share his resolve. They see Trump’s tariffs as an overreach that hurts consumers.
Earlier, on April 2, 2025, Paul and Kaine led a separate Senate resolution to block tariffs on Canada, which passed 51-48. Three Republicans joined Paul in supporting it, showing cracks in GOP unity. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring that resolution to a vote, stalling its progress.
The Wyden-Paul resolution faces steep hurdles in the House. On April 9, 2025, House Republicans added a procedural rule to a Trump-backed budget blueprint, delaying any vote on S.J. Res... 49 until September 30, 2025. This maneuver likely protects Trump’s tariffs for now.
The White House remains confident, arguing that tariffs are essential to level the playing field for American workers. “President Trump refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of,” a White House fact sheet proclaimed. The administration sees the tariffs as a negotiating tool, not a burden.