3 Republicans break ranks to torpedo GOP bid to shield Trump tariffs

House Republicans suffered a surprise setback Tuesday after three members broke ranks to defeat a procedural rule designed to block votes challenging President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

According to Punchbowl News reporter Jake Sherman, the House voted 214-217 to reject the rule, which would have prevented lawmakers from bringing resolutions to the floor aimed at undoing Trump’s tariffs. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) joined Democrats in voting no.

“This will open [the] door to a flurry of tariff votes,” CNN’s Manu Raju reported Tuesday, noting in a social media post that Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed confidence earlier in the day that he had the votes to pass the rule.

Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported that Democrats now have legislation ready to move that would unwind certain tariffs.

The outcome is “a major defeat for Mike Johnson,” according to MS Now executive producer Kyle Griffin.