GOP anxiety over Trump tariffs tests Speaker Johnson in upcoming vote

House Republican leaders are in danger of an embarrassing loss in a procedural vote Tuesday afternoon as GOP lawmakers balk at voting to block challenges to President Donald Trump’s tariffs over the summer.

A potential GOP revolt over the vote highlights divisions among House Republicans; This dynamic could make it even more difficult for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to advance his and Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress. Disgruntled factions in the House GOP have rebelled several times this Congress, pushing the release of files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and supporting a failed Democratic effort to extend Obamacare subsidies.

Johnson can’t afford to lose more than one Republican, assuming all members are present and Democrats are united against it. measurement A vote on it would set the rules for debating a bill to increase domestic production of critical minerals. At least two Republicans have said they plan to vote against Johnson.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a constant thorn in the side of GOP leadership, has vowed to vote “no.” Others have similarly signaled their opposition as frustration over Trump’s tariffs and leadership maneuvers seeps into Republican ranks.

Rep. Kevin Kiley told CNBC on Tuesday that he opposes “the idea that everyone should come together to introduce a particular bill” because it makes the House of Representatives “a less democratic body.”

On Tuesday, Johnson said he expected the measure to pass, saying the reason for this week’s vote was to “allow the Supreme Court to rule on the pending case.” The Supreme Court is considering a legal challenge to Trump’s tariffs, with a decision pending following oral arguments last November.

“This process is ongoing. I think it makes sense to let this continue. The president’s trade policies have been of great benefit to the country,” Johnson said at a news conference on Tuesday morning.

The House Rules Committee on Monday approved language that would block House votes disapproving Trump’s tariffs through July 31. House Democrats had already planned for this. force a vote on tariffs This week.

“It’s no secret that many Republican members of Congress have concerns privately about President Trump’s tariff policies. Some are even voicing their concerns publicly,” Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said at Monday’s hearing. he said.

“They were about to have a chance to vote to end them this week. So what does this all mean? The White House is scared. They know that House Republicans, who have blocked themselves for months from doing what the Senate has already done, are finally ready to vote to end these unpopular, unwise, downright stupid tariffs,” McGovern continued.

While the Senate has voted multiple times to repeal tariffs enacted by Trump, the House of Representatives has blocked votes on tariff-related resolutions. The last ban on tariff votes expired at the end of January.

During Tuesday’s vote, some other Republicans expressed displeasure with the tariffs but did not commit to opposing the measure for a vote.

R-Calif. “The Supreme Court will rule on this issue by June. So there’s a debate to be had until then to maintain the status quo,” his representative Tom McClintock told CNBC on Tuesday. “I believe in free trade. Tariffs are also a big mistake. But given that the Supreme Court is about to weigh in, maybe we should keep our powder dry and see what they say.”

CNBC’s Karen Sloan contributed to this report.