The Senate was unable to pass a resolution on Wednesday night, as Vice President JD Vance cast a tiebreaker vote to suspend customs duties imposed by President Donald Trump. In a surprising turn, three Republicans—Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Susan Collins from Maine, and Rand Paul from Kentucky—joined Democrats, leading to a tie of 49-49. The other 49 Republicans opposed the resolution.
Murkowski and Paul, who had previously clashed with their party, argued that Trump lacked the constitutional authority to impose the tariffs. “The bilateral trade deficit does not amount to a national emergency,” Murkowski stated, emphasizing that the ongoing work is necessary to restore Congress’s constitutional power over tariffs. Paul echoed this sentiment, asserting that new taxes—like tariffs—should originate from the House of Representatives before reaching the Senate.
Critics have been focusing on Trump’s trade war for weeks, especially as market uncertainty and trade negotiation issues contributed to a GDP contraction in the first quarter. While the latest GDP figures raised some concerns, Federal Reserve Vice-Chairman Richard Clarida claimed that the numbers were skewed due to tariffs, although the administration pointed out some positive economic indicators as well.
“While remnants of Biden’s economic policies may weigh on growth, the underlying data reflects President Trump fostering a strong economic momentum,” said Caroline Leavitt, the news chief. She pointed to robust core GDP figures, record domestic investments, job growth, and billions in new investments, suggesting that these factors could usher in what she described as a “new golden age.”
