Democrats hand Trump one power they spent years fighting - Fox News
Senate Democrats recently voted to grant President Trump limited tariff authority as part of a broader sanctions package against Russia. Critics argue this move provides the administration with excessive power to disrupt trade, while supporters view it as a necessary tool for geopolitical leverage.
Why it matters
This legislative decision highlights the tension between congressional oversight and executive power in foreign trade policy, with immediate implications for U.S. relations with Canada and other global partners.
After raging against a key tool in President Donald Trump’s economic arsenal, Senate Democrats quietly green-lit the authority before they left Washington, D.C. Democrats have bashed Trump’s use of tariffs since they were first floated during his campaign in 2024, and have taken every chance to challenge and push back against duties imposed on other countries throughout his second term. But nearly the entire Senate Democratic caucus voted in favor of giving Trump limited tariff authority in exchange for bone-crushing sanctions against Russia. Only nine Democrats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ultimately voted against the package.
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