Washington, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance broke a Senate tie late Wednesday, effectively ending a bipartisan effort to challenge President Donald Trump’s controversial trade policies. The Senate narrowly rejected a resolution aimed at revoking the emergency measures Trump used to impose significant tariffs on a variety of imports, with the vote resulting in a deadlock of 49-49.
The resolution sought to cancel the tariffs, which have become a cornerstone of Trump’s economic strategy. However, two senators—Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse—were absent, which ultimately allowed the motion to fail. Following the tie, Senate Majority Leader John Thune acted swiftly to prevent any future attempts to revive the resolution, prompting Vance’s appearance at the Capitol to cast the tie-breaking vote.
This marks the second time the vice president has exercised his authority in such a manner during his term. Trump’s trade policy has included historic tariff levels, with a 10% duty on nearly all imports, 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, as well as a staggering 145% on most Chinese goods—a move described by critics as unprecedented in U.S. history.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a co-sponsor of the resolution, viewed Vance’s vote as a strategic advantage for his side. He emphasized the importance of public accountability, stating, “They are so dead set on this tariff policy that they brought the vice president here to fully own it. This should make it clear to the American public who bears responsibility for this economic downturn.”
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republican leadership for obstructing a future vote on the tariffs, saying that Thune and his party were intent on maintaining Trump’s tariffs regardless of public opinion. The resolution had garnered some support from several Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, but their votes fell short amid key absences.
A spokesperson for McConnell, who was unable to participate due to health issues, reiterated the senator’s long-standing opposition to tariffs, characterizing them as detrimental to American consumers and businesses. “He believes that tariffs represent an increase in taxes for everyone,” the spokesperson noted.
Even if the resolution had passed in the Senate, its fate in the House appeared bleak. Earlier this year, House Speaker Mike Johnson effectively stymied any prospects for discussion on the measure by inserting a provision that prohibits its consideration until late September.
In a similar vein, the Senate condemned Trump’s tariffs on Canada earlier this month, but House Republicans employed procedural tactics to ensure that the matter remained unaddressed in their chamber.
Throughout this turmoil, Trump has remained resolute against congressional dissent, previously asserting he would veto any attempts to roll back his tariffs. The administration’s steadfast approach highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and lawmakers on trade policy, leaving the future of U.S. tariffs—and their impact on the economy—an unresolved issue.