GOP Traitors Tank Trump Tariffs

Six House Republicans just betrayed President Trump’s critical border security tariffs on Canada, handing Democrats a win that hikes costs on American families amid the fentanyl crisis.

Story Snapshot

House passed resolution 219-211 to end Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods (15% on energy), with 6 GOP defectors joining Democrats.
Tariffs stemmed from February 2025 national emergency declaration to combat fentanyl and illegal immigration at northern border.
President Trump vows primary challenges against disloyal Republicans, defending tariffs as vital for national security.
Measure heads to Senate but faces certain veto; highlights GOP fractures pre-2026 midterms.

House Defies Trump on Canada Tariffs

On February 11, 2026, the U.S. House passed a resolution by a 219-211 vote to terminate President Trump’s national emergency declaration and the 25% tariffs imposed on most Canadian goods, with a reduced 15% rate on energy imports. Six Republicans—Dan Newhouse (WA), Kevin Kiley (CA), Don Bacon (NE), Jeff Hurd (CO), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA)—joined all Democrats in the rebuke. The vote ended nearly a year of House GOP efforts to block such measures. Democrats forced the action through a privileged resolution after Republicans failed a procedural maneuver on February 10.

Tariffs Rooted in Border Security Needs

President Trump declared the northern border emergency in February 2025 to address fentanyl inflows from Canada and Mexico, imposing tariffs as leverage for stricter controls. These measures built on prior Trump policies amid ongoing trade tensions with a key ally. House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the vote to protect Republicans from political fallout, urging a wait for Supreme Court review on executive authority. One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (ME), stood with the GOP majority against the resolution. Critics highlight Canada’s fentanyl crackdown progress, but Trump insists tariffs safeguard American lives and economy.

GOP Defectors Prioritize Economics Over Loyalty

Dissenting Republicans cited constitutional commerce powers under Article I and constituent economic pain as reasons for their votes. Rep. Kiley noted the vote reviewed emergency renewal, pointing to Canada’s fentanyl fixes. Rep. Hurd emphasized Congress’s duty to check executive overreach and prevent future presidential abuses. Democrats, led by Reps. Gregory Meeks, Morgan McGarvey, and Richard Neal, hammered the tariffs’ costs: $1,700 extra per family, 35% price hikes on Canadian goods, and 21% drop in U.S. exports to Canada. Neal invoked Reagan-era GOP free-trade principles.

House Democrats framed the tariffs as illegal executive overreach, blocked by GOP tactics until this procedural breakthrough. POLITICO polls show even MAGA Republicans divided, citing affordability woes despite national security arguments. Trump fired back on Truth Social, threatening election and primary consequences for defectors while touting tariffs’ security benefits.

Political Ramifications and Next Steps

The resolution advances to the Senate, which previously passed similar measures with four GOP votes, but a veto override remains unlikely without two-thirds majorities in both chambers. Democrats plan votes on Mexico tariffs next, using the issue as a midterm cudgel after special election gains. Short-term, the vote forces Republicans on record amid affordability debates; long-term, it may normalize congressional checks on emergency trade powers. U.S. families, small businesses, and farmers in border states bear the brunt of higher costs and trade friction with a vital partner.

GOP rifts deepen as Trump wields primary threats against defectors prioritizing local economics and separation of powers over party loyalty. A Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s authority looms as soon as next week, potentially clarifying executive limits. This symbolic yet divisive vote underscores tensions between border security victories and everyday economic realities for working Americans frustrated by rising prices.