Congressional support from lawmakers within the MAGA base is slowly beginning to wane.
In a rare rebuke, GOP congress members sided with Democrats to pass a resolution calling for the repeal of the White House’s national emergency tariffs enacted on Canada.
After a year of Donald Trump’s grand designs of a U.S. takeover of Canada, lawmakers—including members loyal to the president—finally recognize the danger posed to one of America’s most stalwart allies and neighbour.
From the latest outburst threatening to force a shutdown of the newly constructed Gordie Howe International Bridge, to the incessant mischaracterizations of U.S.-Canada trade relations, Washington is finally waking from its year-long stupor.
Acutely aware of the fulmination emanating from the Trump administration’s trade policies and the stinging impact, not just on a century’s-old friendship but the dark pall cast over America’s own economy, Republicans—left with no choice—are finally pushing back.
GOP lawmaker Don Bacon told the press before Wednesday’s vote: “We have a trade agreement, and I think they’ve been a good ally, and I think they’ve been unfairly attacked by the administration, and so I’m going to oppose it – I’m going to oppose the tariffs.”
A rare bipartisan rebuke
Frequent critic of the president, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), went even further, pushing back on the White House’s constitutional powers, saying: “taxing authority is vested in the House of Representatives, not the executive.” Since inauguration, President Trump has masterfully stretched the limits of executive power, forcing the co-equal branches of government to bend to his will without consequence.
Yet in a surprise twist, a handful of members of the president’s own party are resisting the Machiavellian power grab. Economic integration between the two countries is vital to the national health and well-being of the U.S. The lead sponsor of the resolution calling for the repeal of the Trump tariffs, Democratic congressman Gregory Meeks, directly underscored the importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship, calling the country “one of our strongest allies.”
He went on to say, “Canadians gave their life for us … and all the President has done from the time that he became president was insult calling them (the) 51st state, put these 35% tariffs [on them], not allowing the bridge to open up between the United States and Canada.”
The resolution, which now heads to the Senate where it is expected to pass with additional Republican support, marks only the second time since returning to power that Republicans have successfully pushed back on the president. President Trump is not taking the rebuke kindly and is escalating the feud with recalcitrant lawmakers.
In a Truth Social post in the aftermath of the resolution’s successful passage, the president threatened to take down GOP lawmakers seeking to curb his authority by standing with Ottawa.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time,” said Trump, “and that includes Primaries…”
Trump sees Canada as threat
He argued tariffs have given Americans “Great National Security” and that “no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege.”The White House no longer sees Canada as subservient to the United States. In fact, it now sees Ottawa as a threat. Canada’s recently announced trade agreement with China has changed the calculus for the White House.
Buried in President Trump’s Truth Social post declaring open negotiations over ownership of the Gordie Howe International Bridge was language intimating the president’s thinking. He says “… now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so.”
President Trump sees thawed relations between Ottawa and Beijing—culminating in a new trade deal—as a zero sum game for America’s interests. He even bizarrely proclaimed: “The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.” All of this indicates he see his once grand ambition of making Canada the 51st state now been thwarted, as Prime Minister Carney now courts close ties with China.
Since returning to power, Donald Trump gleefully mocked Ottawa’s dependence on the U.S. The president is the first commander-in-chief to so openly flaunt America’s unquestioned predominance over its northern neighbour.
Now, the White House is getting a jarring reality check. Acolytes in Trump’s own party are now openly condemning his import duties and standing with the opposition party. Ultimately providing cover to a long-standing and fiercely loyal ally.
