Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to veto a bipartisan bill that would curtail a president’s authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval. The legislation, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), seeks to reassert legislative oversight over trade policy—a power increasingly concentrated in the executive branch.
In a strongly worded statement released by the White House and obtained by Axios, Trump emphasized that the bill, S.1272, would “dangerously hamper the President’s authority and duty to determine our foreign policy and protect our national security.”
“If S.1272 were presented to the President, he would veto the bill,” the statement added, drawing a firm line in the sand during a tense period of escalating global trade tensions.
The bill has gained traction quickly, with seven Republican senators co-sponsoring it. This bipartisan support is seen as a rare moment of intra-party dissent, reflecting unease within the GOP ranks over the long-term implications of Trump’s sweeping tariff strategy.
Senator Cantwell said on CBS, “You don’t get a first introduction and get so many people on board, but I think it shows the anxiety that people have.”
Meanwhile, House Democrats are preparing to force a vote to end the national emergency under which Trump’s new tariffs have been justified.
As the tariff wars intensify, the battle over who controls U.S. trade policy is turning into a constitutional flashpoint.
