President Donald Trump dismissed the chances of another rebuke from lawmakers in his own party — this time over tariffs slapped on Mexican imports — saying such an effort would be “foolish.”
In a news conference Tuesday with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump said he didn’t think GOP lawmakers would try to block the 5 percent tariffs set to go into effect next week, arguing that he has “tremendous” support among their voting base.
The tariff threat has prompted a wave of backlash and sent Mexican negotiators scrambling, but officials in both parties and trade experts say it’s possible Congress could block the penalties. That’s because in order to invoke trade powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump may be required to declare a national emergency, allowing lawmakers to take a vote on blocking it.
On Tuesday, the president said he thought his party wouldn’t buck him, even though Republicans did just that earlier this year over his efforts to secure funding for a border wall. “I don’t think they will do that; if they do, it’s foolish. There’s nothing more important than borders,” he said, adding that “I’ve had tremendous Republican support.”
Trump last week threatened the tariffs on Mexico if it did not significantly step up its efforts to block the flood of migrants entering the U.S. illegally, warning that the 5 percent figure would increase monthly, up to 25 percent, until the Mexican government had satisfied his requirements.
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Trump argued that his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico has "tremendous" support among the GOP voting base https://t.co/d7kqXAeN8X
— POLITICO (@politico) June 4, 2019
Tweets are Offical White House Policy https://t.co/iOZGmJqEZz
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 4, 2019
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