Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is once again challenging former President Donald Trump—this time over tariffs. Paul says Trump’s use of tariffs is less about foreign policy and more about imposing taxes, something he believes should go through Congress, not the White House.
Taking to social media platform X, Paul emphasized that under the Constitution, only Congress has the authority to approve new taxes. And since tariffs raise costs for consumers and businesses, he argues they count as taxes. “The Constitution is clear,” Paul wrote. “Congress controls the purse strings. Tariffs are taxes and should start in the House, then move to the Senate.”
While many Republicans, including Trump, view tariffs as a tool of diplomacy—used to pressure other countries into fairer trade deals—Paul sees them as overreach. He believes bypassing Congress sets a dangerous precedent.
This debate intensified after Trump declared a “national emergency” over foreign economic practices, authorizing new tariffs to protect U.S. workers and strengthen America’s position on the global stage. The White House said the move was necessary and in line with executive powers granted by Congress in past emergencies.
But Paul didn’t back down. Just ahead of a Senate vote aiming to repeal Trump’s previously paused “Liberation Day” tariffs, Paul sided with all Democrats and a few Republicans like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. The vote ended in a 49-49 tie and failed.
The effort to limit the president’s tariff powers also hit a snag because Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was traveling from South Korea and missed the vote. Another critic of Trump, retiring Senator Mitch McConnell, also did not vote but released a statement through his office saying he has long opposed tariffs, calling them “a hidden tax that hurts American families and businesses.”
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon also tried to trigger another vote to challenge Trump’s emergency powers, underscoring growing concern—even among some Republicans—about rising prices and how much authority the president should have.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed these efforts as “mostly symbolic,” adding that Republicans want to give the administration some flexibility to negotiate stronger trade deals. Still, Paul believes the issue isn’t going away anytime soon. He told Axios it could resurface, especially if tariffs start affecting markets or economic growth in the coming months.
At its core, this debate highlights a bigger question: Where should the line be drawn between executive power and congressional oversight—especially when it impacts Americans’ wallets?