House Votes 219–211 to Rescind Trump Tariffs—Six Republicans Break Ranks

Washington just pulled the plug on a major trade policy—and the political math is telling.

How the Vote Unfolded

The final tally landed at 219 in favor, 211 against. The real story? Six Republicans crossed the aisle, handing Democrats the narrow win. It’s a classic D.C. shuffle—just enough defections to tip the scale without causing a full party revolt.

The Market’s Silent Sigh

Tariffs are taxes by another name, and markets hate uncertainty. Removing them cuts friction for global trade flows. Think cheaper imports, smoother supply chains, and one less headache for corporate earnings calls. Wall Street’s already pricing it in—because nothing moves faster than money anticipating a policy shift.

The Crypto Angle? Follow the Liquidity

Less trade friction means more capital mobility. And where does loose, global capital go when traditional markets get boring? It hunts yield—often in digital assets. Bitcoin doesn’t care about tariffs, but it thrives on macro instability and dollar-weakening policies. This vote subtly nudges the door open for alternative stores of value.

Another day, another political theater where the real winners are the hedge funds that positioned themselves a week ago. The rest of us just get to read about it.

Democrats challenge Trump as midterms approach

Democrats urged their Republican counterparts to oppose Trump, who has taken over the party, before the vote.

“Today’s vote is simple, very simple: Will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American family or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person, Donald J Trump?” said Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, who authored the resolution.

The vote was cast as the U.S. begins its crucial midterm election season. The general election takes place in November after the primaries start in March. Every member of the House of Representatives will be represented in their constituency on the ballot.

Trump vowed to ruin any Republican’s chances of winning the election if they supported the plan on Wednesday.

Trump wrote on Truth Social during the House floor vote, “Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against tariffs will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time.” Trump added that no Republican should be held accountable for undermining the economic and national security benefits that tariffs have provided.

The U.S. President also accused Canada, one of the United States’ closest allies and largest trading partners, of mistreating its neighbor to the south.

Trump further stated on Truth Social that Canada has historically exploited the U.S. in trade and is one of the hardest nations to work with, especially on issues at the northern border. He pushed Republicans to keep tariffs in place, arguing that they are an easy win for the U.S.

House votes, legal challenges mount against Trump’s tariffs

The vote followed an unsuccessful attempt by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump friend in Congress, to prevent members from discussing Trump’s tariffs on the chamber floor.

With Republicans holding a thin majority in the U.S. House, six Republican representatives, including Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, joined a nearly united Democratic front, contributing enough votes to ensure approval.

Gregory Meeks, a Democrat, introduced the bill, claiming that Trump had “weaponized tariffs” against allies and caused global economic instability.

Meeks said before the vote that these tariffs have not only severely damaged the U.S. relationship with Canada by bringing Canada closer to China, but also increased domestic prices.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, one of the six Republicans, voted with Democrats to approve the legislation. Before the vote, he stated that “tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying.”

Trump’s tariffs are also facing legal scrutiny, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule in a lawsuit challenging the president’s authority to impose the taxes.

The WHITE House’s defense of the import duties, which the president claimed are required to repair America’s manufacturing base and correct its trade imbalance, was questioned by the majority of the justices, including several conservatives.

A group of states and many small businesses are contesting the measures, arguing that the president has overreached himself in enforcing the levies, which are effectively taxes.

America’s highest court typically takes months to issue significant rulings, with a conservative majority of 6-3, but many anticipate it will act more quickly in this case. This is also viewed as the first significant test of the Trump administration’s efforts to increase presidential power.

Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program