President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that Republicans who vote against his tariffs would face severe opposition in their upcoming re-election campaigns.
Trump made the comment as the House voted on Wednesday evening to pass a resolution overturning the president’s tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans joined all but one Democrat to pass the anti-tariff resolution in a 219-211 vote.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” Trump said.
Trump’s threat comes as Republicans gear up for what promises to be a tightly contested midterm election season. Republicans currently hold a four-seat House majority, and Democrats are widely expected to perform well nationwide in the 2026 elections.
The House Republicans who voted against Trump’s tariffs were Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Kevin Kiley of California, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Dan Newhouse of Washington, and Jeff Hurd of Colorado. The measure now heads to the Senate, but is largely a symbolic rebuke of Trump’s far-reaching tariffs. Even if the resolution passed the Senate, it would still need Trump’s signature.
A spokesman for Rep. Hurd told The Daily Wire that his vote on Wednesday is in line with his constituents’ feelings on Trump’s tariffs. Hurd’s district is considered “likely Republican” for the 2026 midterms by the Cook Political Report.
“The people of Colorado’s Third District have been vocal with Congressman Hurd about the effect these tariffs have had on their livelihoods,” Hurd’s office said. “Congressman Hurd will always fight for Western and Southern Coloradan farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.”
Rep. Bacon, who has opposed Trump on multiple issues over the past year, responded to Trump’s warning, telling The Daily Wire, “Folks should vote their conscience and do what is best for our country. We are an independent branch of government.” The president’s warning will not affect Bacon, since the Nebraska congressman is not running for re-election.
The Daily Wire also reached out to Massie, Kiley, Fitzpatrick, and Newhouse, seeking comment. Newhouse is also not seeking re-election in 2026, and Massie has been in the president’s crosshairs throughout Trump’s second term. Trump endorsed Massie’s Republican primary opponent Ed Gallrein after Massie pushed back on some of the president’s signature economic policies and focused on criticizing Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.
Fitzpatrick has also become one of Trump’s biggest critics in Congress and joined Massie as the only two Republicans who voted against Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” last summer.
The anti-tariffs vote could have the biggest implications for Rep. Kiley, who recently received a shoutout from President Trump for his bill that seeks to punish nonprofits that help organize “unlawful riots.” Kiley introduced the legislation after anti-ICE demonstrations broke out in Los Angeles last year. Kiley’s 2026 chances are already in question after California redistricted, making his path to re-election much more difficult. Kiley told the Sacramento Bee earlier this month that he did not have a timeline for deciding on where he would run for re-election.
Republicans still largely support Trump’s tariffs, but earlier this week, the Republican-controlled House cleared the way for more votes on the president’s trade policy. In a vote on Tuesday night, three Republicans joined with Democrats to shoot down a rule that blocked members from proposing resolutions to reject Trump’s tariffs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the chamber’s vote on tariffs was “a big mistake.”
The president said on Wednesday that his tariffs have given the United States an economic boost and reduced the country’s trade deficit.
“In addition, TARIFFS have given us Great National Security because the mere mention of the word has Countries agreeing to our strongest wishes,” he added. “TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege.”
Trump recently threatened to raise the tariff rate on Canada to 100% and suggested he would prevent the opening of a bridge connecting Ontario to Detroit after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life,” he said.
