The Trump administration is threatening to veto a bipartisan Senate bill to give Congress the ability to review new tariffs, protecting President Donald Trump’s claim of unfettered power in the early stages of a trade war that is sinking financial markets.
Trump’s veto threat comes as a handful of Senate Republicans have signed onto a bill from Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that would require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of issuing any new tariffs and that Congress explicitly approve any tariffs within 60 days. The bill also would allow Congress to end any tariff at any time.
The White House — in a statement of administration policy sent to congressional offices Monday — argued that the bill would “severely constrain” Trump’s tariff powers and “eliminates” Trump’s ability to have leverage over foreign countries.
“If passed, this bill would dangerously hamper the president’s authority and duty to determine our foreign policy and protect our national security,” the White House added in the statement reviewed by POLITICO, warning that if the bill makes it to Trump’s desk “he would veto the bill.”
The bill faces an uphill climb to Trump’s desk. Senate GOP leadership hasn’t backed it yet and has not committed to allowing it on the floor. And while GOP Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is introducing the bill in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson is publicly sticking by Trump’s tariff strategy.