Senate Democrats indicated additional challenges to President Donald Trump’s emergency declarations at a press conference before a forced floor vote to reverse his tariffs against Canada.
“One step at a time,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., informed reporters on Wednesday, in response to a question about potentially introducing a privileged resolution to rescind Trump’s emergency declaration in Mexico.
“Let’s focus on getting this one done. If we succeed, then we can assess President Trump’s actions later today,” he stated, referring to the president’s scheduled remarks on tariffs at 4 p.m. in the White House’s Rose Garden.
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Kaine’s resolution is up for a vote on Wednesday. (Al Drago/Joe Raedle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“There could be a whole set of trade or tariff-related motions on the horizon,” the Virginia Democrat remarked.
Kaine acknowledged that “Canada and Mexico are not identical, particularly due to some issues related to fentanyl,” leaving uncertainty about whether he would challenge the Mexico emergency specifically.
The press conference on Wednesday was spearheaded by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to condemn Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
“We will vigorously oppose these tariffs,” he stressed. “Trump has committed numerous misdeeds. This ranks high among them.”
The White House did not offer immediate comments to Fox News Digital.
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Trump’s tariffs on Canada started on Wednesday. (iStock)
Kaine’s challenge to Trump’s Canadian tariffs faces a vote on Wednesday evening and carries the risk of being approved and sent to the White House, as some Republicans have voiced concerns.
“The price increases that Maine families will experience every time they shop, fill their gas tanks, or heat their homes, if these tariffs are implemented, will be detrimental. Like all price hikes, they will disproportionately affect those who can least afford it. Therefore, I will back this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, declared in remarks on the Senate floor on Wednesday.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a consistent critic of tariffs, even under Trump, will also support the resolution and is a co-sponsor.
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Paul has been an outspoken opponent of tariffs. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump took to social media to call out potential dissenters. “Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky, will hopefully align with the Republican stance, for a change, and combat the Democrats’ reckless effort to avoid penalizing Canada for the influx of large quantities of Fentanyl into our country, by imposing tariffs on this harmful and deadly drug to make its distribution and purchase more expensive,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Previously, Kaine forced a vote last month to terminate Trump’s emergency declaration aimed at “enhancing American energy” and boosting oil drilling and natural gas production.
The resolution was defeated, with the White House accusing Kaine of seeking to “impoverish Americans.”
“President Donald Trump’s executive order propels America into the future and stimulates prosperity. Senator [Tim] Kaine aims to disrupt the economy and endanger almost a million jobs,” deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stated at the time.
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Kaine hinted at potential future challenges. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
The White House has also cautioned about a probable veto if the Canadian tariffs resolution gets approval in the Senate.
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A White House official, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, said, “President Trump pledged to safeguard our borders and combat the epidemic of fentanyl poisoning our communities, and he’s making good on it. Democrat Senator Tim Kaine is attempting to subvert the President’s Emergency Declaration at our Northern Borders – a policy that prioritizes our national security – for reasons that defy logic.”
