‘Some serious activity on Truth Social tonight’: 5 Republicans go against dictator Trump to overturn 50% tariffs on Brazil, people call it a ‘good start’ for change
It appears that the Republican Party is experiencing some internal strife. Late on Tuesday, five GOP members voted in favour of a bill aimed at ending Trump’s tariff war on Brazil.
Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul from Kentucky, Thom Tillis from North Carolina, Susan Collins from Maine, and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska joined their Democratic colleagues on Tuesday to override Trump’s tariffs on Brazil.
For those who may not be aware, Donald Trump declared a national emergency during the early months of his second term as President of the United States this year, claiming that Brazil’s actions were a threat to national security, foreign policy, and the economy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This led to a 50 per cent tariff on all imports from Brazil.
While Trump asserted that these tariffs were necessary to prevent Brazil from acting against U.S. interests, many speculated that his actions were influenced by his close relationship with Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was at the time facing trial for his role in a coup attempt after losing the 2022 elections, resulting in a 27-year and 3-month prison sentence in September. Does this sound familiar?
Despite five Republican members voting to support the tariff’s overturn, it seems unlikely that the bill will reach the House of Representatives, which is under Republican control. If it does make it to the House, it’s probable that President Trump would veto it. However, even if the bill doesn’t progress, it’s a positive indication that there is some internal dissent among Republicans who are genuinely tired of Trump’s behaviour. This sentiment is also being recognised by the American public. After they found out about the Republican solidarity against Trump’s tariffs, many took to social media platforms such as X to vocalise their opinions on the matter. One person wrote:
“Uh oh. There’s gonna be some serious activity on Truth Social tonight”
Another person wrote:
“Even Mitch McConnell broke ranks — that’s how reckless Trump’s tariffs were. When your own party steps in to save the economy, it’s not leadership, it’s damage control.”
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