Republican strategists and congressmen are showing concern as opposition to tariffs appears to be much larger than it appears in the face of the upcoming midterms.
After the Supreme Court struck down many of President Trump’s tariffs last week, he doubled down and imposed another round using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, that caps rates at 15% and requires congressional authorization for an extension beyond 150 days, creating a difficult position on an unpopular issue for congressional Republicans in the midst of election season.
Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska noted that every poll shows a 2-1 ratio of Americans are against tariffs, saying, “The president has latched on to a very unpopular policy.”
Bacon pointed to a recent Tax Foundation study that stated Trump’s tariffs amounted to a $1,000 average tax increase for American families in 2025. He also cited analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that found U.S. consumers and firms are shouldering nearly 90% of the tariff burden, saying, “Both should be “red flags.”
The Supreme Court’s decision, which struck down tariffs Trump issued using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, dealt a massive blow to Trump’s economic agenda and could change the dynamics of the fight in Congress over the president’s signature trade policy.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement on Monday, saying that Senate Democrats will continue to fight back against Trump’s tariff tax and will block any attempt to extend them when they expire this summer to stop the “economic carnage.”
While Democrats hold little power without control in the House or Senate, the success of any future vote to extend his Section 122 tariffs or expand the president’s power to impose his trade policy is far from certain as GOP frustration builds.
According to Brittany Martinez of Principles First, the narrow House majority, the Supreme Court rebuke gives Republican more cover to break ranks, particularly on issues with direct economic consequences for their districts.
“As we move toward the midterms, we’re likely to see more members prioritize the rule of law and local impact over party pressure,” said Martinez.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also acknowledged the prospects for tariffs in Congress were dim, saying, “It’s going to be, I think, a challenge to find consensus on any path forward on the tariffs on the legislative side.”
The recent vote to overturn the Canada tariffs was the most recent hit to Trump’s trade policies, with the Senate voting multiple times in 20225 to strike some IEEPA tariffs.
Trump has turned to pulling endorsements from anyone perceived as defying his policies, as with the withdrawal from Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Colorado Republican who voted to overturn the Canada tariffs.
Hurd responded on X with a post stating, “When I took office, I swore an oath to the Constitution and to the people I serve. Every vote I cast is guided by what is best for this district and the longterm strength of our country.”
Bacon speculated that bipartisan efforts to reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs could gain steam, as bipartisan bills gain more support.
Meanwhile, when Speaker Johnson was asked about the promised tariff refund checks for Americans, he said, “The White House is going to sort that out.”
As Republicans continue to wrestle with the tariff issue and their ramifications to the economy, some GOP congressmen consider suggestions to codify the recent round of tariffs, but John Feehery, a Republican strategist at EFB Advocacy in an interview said, “It’s a pretty hard sell if you’re from a farm state or a place that exports equipment overseas.”
Trump went to Truth Social to defend his policies and appeared to drop a hint that the incoming fourthquarter GDP data would be weaker prior to its release, blaming the Democrats. Forty minutes later, the Commerce Department reported that U.S. gross domestic product rose at an annualized rate of just 1.4% in Q4, lower than expectations.
Economists have widely warned that proposed and enacted U.S. tariffs, particularly sweeping measures, threaten the economy with higher consumer prices, increased inflation, and reduced economic growth. Evidence indicates these import taxes act as a drag on manufacturing, causing job losses rather than gains, while lowering standards of living. Key findings included estimates of a potential $2,400 increase in costs to the average U.S. household, job losses in manufacturing, retail and agricultural jobs due to supply chain disruption and hiring freezes, and a slowing business investment landscape. The Federal Reserve warned of a potential recession and and stagflation – high inflation combined with slow growth.