Trump Encounters Unusual GOP Resistance on Tariffs as Poll Numbers Dip

President Donald Trump faced rare pushback in Congress this week over his sweeping tariff policy, as slipping approval ratings and fractures within his party emboldened critics.

While the challenge is unlikely to immediately change his trade agenda, it marks a notable shift for a president who has largely maintained firm control over Republicans on Capitol Hill. A handful of GOP lawmakers joined Democrats to advance a largely symbolic resolution opposing tariffs on Canada, exposing cracks in party unity.

“What a difference a day makes,” said Henrietta Treyz, co-founder of Veda Partners. “For the first time in nearly a year, Democrats and anti-tariff Republicans will be able to record their opposition and send a message of rebuke to the White House.”

The vote comes as the Supreme Court of the United States weighs whether Trump’s use of emergency powers under IEEPA to impose broad import tariffs is constitutional. Treyz noted that future tariff moves could now trigger additional congressional votes, potentially restraining the president’s approach.

Polling shows rising public skepticism toward tariffs, with concerns over inflation and affordability adding political pressure.