Washington, DC – US House Speaker Mike Johnson suffered a major political setback after failing to pass legislation that would have shielded President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods from congressional challenges until July. The move reflects divisions within the Republican Party and hinders its efforts to protect Trump’s trade policies from any opposing votes in the House during this critical period.
Republican rebellion overturns “procedural rule”
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted on a procedural rule that would have prevented members from holding any votes to block Trump’s tariffs until mid-summer. However, the rule narrowly failed after three Republican representatives—Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, and Kevin Kelly—joined the Democratic opposition.
This small but decisive defection opened the door for opponents of the tariffs to take action in Congress against these controversial economic measures.
Anticipated democratic move
Following this Republican setback, expectations in Washington suggest that Democrats are now preparing to act swiftly, bolstered by some Republicans who are wary of tariff policies. They intend to push for votes aimed at repealing existing tariffs and limiting Trump’s authority to impose new tariffs on foreign imports.
political repercussions
Observers believe this legislative failure puts Mike Johnson in an awkward position with the White House. It also reveals the difficulty of maintaining Republican unity on economic issues that are causing concern in American markets and business circles. Some members of Congress fear the impact on their constituencies.
