GOP Sen. Rand Paul Claims Votes to Block Trump’s “Liberation Day” Tariffs as White House Vows Veto

Washington, D.C. — April 29, 2025 — Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky announced Monday that he believes he has secured enough votes in the Senate to pass a bipartisan resolution aimed at blocking President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs. The tariffs, announced on April 2, impose a 10% baseline duty on all U.S. trading partners and up to 49% on specific goods, prompting economic concerns and bipartisan pushback. The White House swiftly countered Paul’s claim, issuing a formal veto threat against the resolution, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and a growing faction of congressional critics.

Paul, a vocal libertarian and long-standing opponent of tariffs, has partnered with Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to co-sponsor the resolution, which seeks to terminate the national emergency declaration Trump used to justify the tariffs. The measure, supported by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen, Peter Welch, and Elizabeth Warren, argues that Trump’s unilateral tariff imposition bypasses Congress’s constitutional authority over trade policy. “Tariffs are taxes, and the power to tax belongs to Congress—not the president,” Paul said in a statement. “Abusing emergency powers to impose blanket tariffs not only drives up costs for American families but also tramples on the Constitution.”

The resolution targets Trump’s April 2 emergency declaration, which cited a $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit and issues like fentanyl smuggling as justification for the tariffs. Paul has warned that the policy risks economic fallout, pointing to historical Republican losses following tariff-heavy policies in the 1890s and 1930s. “Tariffs have also led to political decimation,” Paul told reporters, emphasizing the potential for a recession and higher consumer prices.

The Senate resolution, treated as a privileged measure, requires only a simple majority to pass and is expected to be voted on as early as Wednesday, April 30. Paul’s confidence stems from prior bipartisan success on April 2, when a similar resolution targeting Trump’s Canada tariffs passed 51-48, with four Republicans—Paul, Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—joining all 47 Democrats. However, even if the Senate passes the broader resolution, it faces significant hurdles. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled reluctance to bring such measures to a vote, and House Republicans recently inserted procedural rules to delay consideration until September 30.

The White House, in a statement from the Office of Management and Budget, warned that Trump would veto the resolution, arguing it would “undermine U.S. national and economic security.” The administration defends the tariffs as essential for correcting trade imbalances, protecting American workers, and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. Trump himself took to Truth Social, criticizing Paul and other GOP senators, claiming the tariffs are critical to addressing issues like fentanyl smuggling from Canada. “President Trump refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of,” a White House fact sheet stated, framing the tariffs as a cornerstone of the “Make America Wealthy Again” agenda.

Economic analysts have raised alarms about the tariffs’ impact. Following Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement, markets plummeted, with manufacturers reporting layoffs and foreign nations imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine warned of “massive economic heartbreak,” while even some Republicans, like Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, have expressed concerns about consumer price hikes. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Trump allies remain optimistic, suggesting the tariffs could lead to better trade deals.

Paul’s push has sparked mixed reactions within the GOP. While some Republicans, including retiring Senator Mitch McConnell, have joined him in opposing the tariffs, others view his efforts as a challenge to party unity. Posts on X reflect this divide, with some users praising Paul’s stand against executive overreach, while others criticize him as obstructing Trump’s agenda. “Rand Paul says he has the votes to block Trump’s tariffs in the Senate... though the move could be blocked by Speaker Johnson,” one X post noted, highlighting the resolution’s uncertain path.

As the Senate vote looms, the clash between Paul’s coalition and the Trump administration underscores a broader debate over executive power and trade policy. Even if the resolution passes, overcoming a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers—an unlikely feat given the GOP’s control of the House. For now, Paul’s defiance marks a rare Republican rebuke of Trump, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in Washington.

Sources: The Washington Post, NBC News, Fox News, Fox Business, The Daily Caller, CNN, finance.senate.gov

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