RNC chair Whatley vows to be ‘tip of the spear’ to protect Trump after coasting to reelection victory
The members of the Republican National Committee, in a vote that was never in doubt, on Friday re-elected chair Michael Whatley to continue steering the national party committee. “This organization has got to be the tip of the spear. And as your chairman, I promise this organization will be the tip of the spear to protect Donald Trump,” Whatley said, as he spoke after the unanimous voice vote at the RNC’s annual meeting, which was held this year in the nation’s capital ahead of Monday’s inauguration of President-elect Trump. Whatley, a longtime Trump ally and a major supporter of Trump’s election integrity efforts, who was serving as RNC general counsel and chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, was named by Trump last March as chair as the former president clinched the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Whatley succeeded longtime RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, whom Trump no longer supported. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the RNC’s winter meeting, Whatley says his job going forward in the 2025 elections and 2026 midterms is straight forward. RNC CHAIR REVEALS WHAT ROLE TRUMP WILL PLAY ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL GOING FORWARD “It’s really critical for us to make sure that the Trump voters become Republican voters,” Whatley told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the RNCs’ winter meeting, which is being held in the nation’s capital. Republicans enjoyed major victories in November’s elections, with President-elect Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to win back the White House, the GOP flipping control of the Senate from the Democrats, and holding on to their razor-thin majority in the House. Whatley, who was interviewed on Thursday on the eve of the formal RNC chair vote, said the GOP needs “to cement those gains” made in the 2024 elections. “We’re going to go right back to the building blocks that we had during this election cycle, which is to get out the vote and protect the ballot,” Whatley emphasized. The RNC chair pointed to “the lessons that we learned” in the 2024 cycle “about going after low propensity voters, about making sure that we’re reaching out to every voter and bringing in new communities,” which he said helped Republicans make “historic gains among African American voters, among Asian American voters, among Hispanic voters, young voters and women voters.” Speaking a couple of days before the president-elect’s inauguration, Whatley emphasized that once Trump’s in the White House, “we’re going to go right back to the RNC. We’re going to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We’ve got a couple of governor’s races…that we’re going to be working on in ‘25.” HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR MAKES 2026 PREDICTION But Whatley said “everything is focused on ‘26,” when the party will be defending its majorities in the House and Senate, “because that is going to determine, from an agenda perspective, whether we have two years to work with or four. And America needs us to have a four-year agenda.” “What we’re going to be doing is making sure that we are registering voters,” Whatley said. “We’re going to be…communicating with the folks that we need to turn out.” Pointing to the 2024 presidential election, he said “it’s the same fundamentals.” But he noted that “it’s not just seven battleground states” and that the 2026 contests are “definitely going to be a very intense midterm election cycle.” While Democrats would disagree, Whatley described today’s GOP as “a common sense party…this is a party that’s going to fight for every American family and for every American community.” SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR SPELLS OUT HIS 2026 MISSION Referring to former Democrats Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, whom Trump has nominated to serve in his second administration’s cabinet, Whatley touted “the fact that we have two former Democratic presidential candidates who are going to be serving in the president’s cabinet. That shows you that this is a commonsense agenda, a commonsense team, that we’re going to be moving forward with.” In December, Trump asked Whatley to continue during the 2026 cycle as RNC chair. “I think we will be able to talk when we need to talk,” Whatley said when asked if his lines of communication with Trump will be limited now that the president-elect is returning to the White House. “We’re going to support the president and his agenda. That does not change. What changes is his ability from the White House to actually implement the agenda that he’s been campaigning on.” VANCE HOSTS TOP-DOLLAR FUNDRAISER AHEAD OF TRUMP INAUGURATION The winter meeting included the last appearance at the RNC by co-chair Lara Trump. The president-elect’s daughter-in-law is stepping down from her post. She stressed that it’s crucial the RNC takes “the opportunity the voters have given us” to “continue to expand the Republican brand.” The elder Trump is term-limited and won’t be able to seek election again in 2028. Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance will likely be considered the front-runner for the 2028 GOP nomination. Whatley reiterated what he told Fox News Digital in December, that the RNC will stay neutral in the next race for the GOP nomination and that the party’s “got an amazing bench.” “You think about the talent on the Republican side of the aisle right now, our governors, our senators, our members of Congress, people that are going to be serving in this administration. I love the fact that the Republican Party is going to be set up to have a fantastic candidate going into ’28,” he highlighted. Unlike the DNC, which in the 2024 cycle upended the traditional presidential nominating calendar, the RNC made no major changes to their primary lineup, and kept the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary as their first two contests. Asked about the 2028 calendar, Whatley reiterated to Fox News that “I have not had any conversations with anybody who wants to change the calendar, so we will wait and see what that looks like
Trump swearing-in to move indoors due to cold weather, source tells Fox News
The swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Trump’s inauguration will be moved inside because of cold temperatures forecast for Washington, D.C., Fox News has learned. Trump announced Friday that he had ordered that his inaugural address and other ceremonial prayers and speeches be held in the United States Capitol Rotunda due to expected winter conditions. “The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on Truth Social, addressing the expected cold. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).” Brutal cold and ferocious winds are expected for the D.C. region on Monday, with temperatures expected to fall to the upper 20s, FOX Weather reported. With the wind chill, it will feel more like single digit temperatures. There is also a possibility of snow from a storm forecast on Sunday. Trump said the Capital One Arena will be open Monday for live viewing of his inauguration “and to host the Presidential Parade.” “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing in,” Trump wrote. The three Inaugural Balls on Monday will proceed as scheduled. The Inaugural Committee has yet to comment on Trump’s decision. Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
DOGE eyes suggestions to slash federal DEI programs: report
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is eying a proposal that would slash federal diversity and inclusion programs, according to a new report. DOGE is tasked with eliminating government spending, waste and streamlining efficiency and operations, and is expected to influence White House policy on budget matters. The proposal circulating among DOGE advisors is a 19-page report from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative and libertarian nonprofit organization, the Washington Post reports. Specifically, the document claims that there is more than $120 billion annually spent on “diversity, equity and inclusion” initiatives like Agriculture Department grants and loans for minority farmers and ranchers – efforts the organization claims are unconstitutional. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DOGE AND ITS QUEST TO SLASH GOVERNMENT WASTE, SPENDING Although it’s unlikely that the entirety of those funds will face complete elimination, sources told the Post that these diversity efforts will likely face cuts to free up spending. DOGE advisors have viewed the document, and it is making its rounds through the committee, the Post reports. “That’s been sent down from on high, that all this DEI stuff has to go,” someone familiar with DOGE’s early plans told the Post. “Once all these guys get confirmed, and he’s the president on Jan. 20, this is going to happen fast and furious.” GOP REP-ELECT OUTLINES HOW DOGE, TRUMP AGENDA WILL GET COUNTRY ‘BACK ON TRACK’: ‘NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL’ Musk is expected to occupy space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building which is directly beside the West Wing and where the majority of office space for White House staffers exists, the New York Times reported this week. While Musk and transition officials have discussed the nature of the billionaire’s access to Trump post-inauguration, solidified plans are pending, according to the Times, which noted that special passes are usually required in order to freely visit the West Wing. DOGE is not part of the federal government, but the committee is expected to suggest executive orders for the Trump administration and partner with the Office of Management and Budget on new initiatives. ‘EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE’: GOP-LED DOGE BILL AIMS TO SLASH OUTFLOW OF FEDERAL DOLLARS Altogether, DOGE seeks to slash $2 trillion from the federal government budget through cuts to spending, government programs and the federal workforce. Even so, that plan may be a bit ambitious. Musk recently said that eliminating $2 trillion from the federal budget might not be realistic, and cutting $1 trillion was a more likely outcome. “I think we’ll try for $2 trillion. I think that’s like the best-case outcome,” Musk said during tech trade show CES this month in Las Vegas. “But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, we’ve got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion].”
Trump needs ‘time to review’ SCOTUS decision to uphold TikTok ban, teases action in ‘not too distant future’
President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that he needs “time to review” the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal law banning TikTok unless it divests from its Chinese parent company before Jan. 19 – the day before Trump is set to be sworn in. Trump added that “everyone must respect” the high court’s decision. “The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it,” Trump said in a statement posted to Truth Social. “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” The statement came moments after Trump reportedly told a small group of journalists by phone that the law banning TikTok “ultimately goes up to me, so you’re going to see what I’m going to do” after taking office. “Congress has given me the decision, so I’ll be making the decision,” Trump said, according to CNN, which first reported the remarks. Trump’s Truth Social post appears to take a more deferential tone towards the nation’s highest court, including its decision to uphold the bipartisan divestiture law passed last April with wide bipartisan support. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the court wrote in the unsigned ruling. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. “For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed.” Trump has sought to delay the law from taking force. Attorneys for the president-elect filed a brief with the Supreme Court last month, asking justices to delay any decision until after Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. But lawmakers disagreed. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told the Supreme Court in a filing of his own that Congress explicitly set the Jan. 19 date for the divestiture clause to take force since it “very clearly removes any possible political uncertainty in the execution of the law by cabining it to an administration that was deeply supportive of the bill’s goals.” This is a breaking news story. Check back shortly for updates.
400-plus farmers and growers groups urge Senate to confirm Trump’s USDA pick
FIRST ON FOX — A coalition of more than 400 U.S. farm, agriculture and growers groups sent a letter to Senate leaders this week urging the swift confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump nominee Brooke Rollins to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), praising her as a strong voice they see as well-positioned to speak to the interests of rural America. The signatories included a whopping 417 national and state growers groups representing the interests of farmers, growers, hunters, ranchers, forest owners, renewable fuel associations and state departments of agriculture across the country — encompassing what they said is virtually “all aspects of American agriculture, food, nutrition and rural America.” The USDA is the agency that oversees the nation’s agriculture and its practices. Its sprawling portfolio includes providing support for farmers, setting the standards for school meals and overseeing the safety of meat, poultry and eggs. The letter was previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital and sent to Sens. John Boozman, R-La., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. — the chair and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, respectively — just one week before Rollins was slated to appear before the panel for her confirmation hearing. AG NOMINEE PAM BONDI SEEN AS STEADYING FORCE TO STEER DOJ IN TRUMP’S SECOND TERM In the letter, signatories praised what they described as Rollins’ foundational knowledge of agriculture, combined with her policy and business bona fides that they said made her uniquely qualified for the role of U.S. agriculture secretary. Rollins “has been engaged in American agriculture since an early age,” they said, noting Rollins’ childhood spent baling hay and growing livestock in Glen Rose, Texas — a small town some 70 miles outside of Dallas — as well as the summers she spent working on her family’s farm in Minnesota. Later, Rollins majored in agricultural development at Texas A&M on a scholarship, before completing law school at the University of Texas. She went on to work for former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and then later served as director of the United States Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term as president. She then became president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, whose mission is to “advance policies that put the American people first.” The nonprofit think tank has called on Congress to restrict China’s access to American farmland and has been critical of President Biden’s energy policies. TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW CABINET DEPUTIES AS INAUGURATION DATE DRAWS NEAR In the letter, the groups said Rollins’ agriculture and farming bona fides, policy expertise and her business experience make her uniquely prepared to “provide effective executive leadership for USDA’s important, wide-ranging activities and large workforce.” TRUMP INAUGURATION GUEST LIST INCLUDES TECH TITANS MARK ZUCKERBERG, JEFF BEZOS, ELON MUSK The timing of the letter and Rollins’ pending confirmation hearing, slated for Thursday, comes at a crucial time for U.S. growers groups and agribusinesses across the country. It comes as lawmakers have stalled on a new farm bill, and on other key priorities for farmers and industry groups across the country. The 11th-hour passage of a government spending bill in late December helped narrowly avert a government shutdown, but it failed to provide the full extent of farm aid and other agriculture subsidies in the amounts considered necessary for many in the U.S. In the letter, the groups cited Rollins’ “close working relationship” with the incoming president, which they said will “ensure that agriculture and rural America have a prominent and influential voice at the table when critical decisions are made in the White House.” In sum, the letter said, Rollins’ leadership at USDA is necessary to help “advocate for a new farm bill, stabilize an agricultural economy in decline, support the full food and agriculture and forestry value chain, and continue American agriculture’s long history of providing the most secure, affordable and nutritious food supply in the world.” Rollins is not expected to face staunch opposition to her nomination to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and lawmakers who have spoken out to date have praised both her experience and strong knowledge of the agriculture sector.
Harris says she won’t go ‘quietly into the night’: ‘Our work is not done’
Vice President Kamala Harris, with just days left in office, assured staff that she would not “go quietly into the night” as she added her signature to a desk drawer in her ceremonial office. “And I’m not going to go through the laundry list of all of our accomplishments. We know what they are. But I will tell you that everyone here has so much to be proud of, and our work is not done,” Harris said. “And as you all know me, because we have spent long hours, long days, and months and years together, it is not my nature to go quietly into the night.” Harris is the first woman to take part in the decades-long tradition of signing the drawer. The VP noted that she had met everyone who signed the desk, with the exceptions of Presidents Eisenhower and Truman. COULD VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS MAKE A RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR IN 2 YEARS? Once Harris signed the desk, the crowd of current and former staffers in attendance began chanting “MVP!” “We have each taken on a life and a calling that is about doing work in the service of others and doing it in a way that is fueled, yes, with ambition; yes, with a sense of almost stubbornness about not hearing no; and knowing we can make a difference,” Harris told her staff. While Harris was taking part in a long-held tradition, her journey to that point was anything but traditional. KAMALA HARRIS TRIES TO DEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN After becoming America’s first female vice president in the middle of a pandemic, Harris, along with President Biden, oversaw years filled with crises from COVID-19 to crime, inflation and the border. In addition to the challenges of the Biden-Harris administration, the VP also faced frequent mocking for her “word salads.” Harris’ road to becoming the Democratic presidential nominee was also historic, as she took President Biden after he abruptly exited the 2024 race. Furthermore, the election cycle itself was full of controversies and multiple assassination attempts against now-President-elect Trump. HARRIS TO OVERSEE CERTIFICATION OF HER DEFEAT TO TRUMP IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Following her crushing loss to President-Elect Trump in November, Harris’ political future became murky. Some have speculated that she will run for California governor in 2026, as Gov. Gavin Newsom will not be able to seek a third term due to term limits. Others wonder if she’ll skip the gubernatorial bid and try again for the presidency in 2028. Harris has not spoken publicly about her future, making Thursday’s comment the first on what she could be planning after Trump takes office.
Ohio Gov. DeWine to pick his Lt. Governor to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance’s vacant seat
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will announce on Friday Lt. Governor Jon Husted as his pick to fill the Senate vacancy left by Vice President-elect JD Vance ahead of his inauguration on Monday, Fox News has learned. The announcement will be made at approximately 1 p.m. Husted was first elected to be Lt. Governor in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. He previously served in several other capacities, including as Ohio Secretary of State, the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and as an Ohio state Senator. The Lt. Governor is married to his wife Tina and has three children; Alex, Katie and Kylie. DESANTIS ANNOUNCES CHOICE FOR SENATE APPOINTMENT AFTER RUBIO’S EXPECTED RESIGNATION Vance gave the Senate notice of his forthcoming resignation on Jan. 9, which became official on the following day. He officially resigned 10 days prior to his and President-elect Trump’s swearing in. “To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate. When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day,” Vance said in a statement. “The American people have granted President Trump an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad. Over the next four years, I will do all that I can to help President Trump enact his agenda. Together, we will make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.” After Vance’s resignation, new Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said in his own statement, “Ohio couldn’t be prouder of JD Vance! He has served our country with great honor, first in the Marines, then in the US Senate, and now as our 50th Vice President! I’m extremely thankful to JD for his early and unwavering support. A truly amazing journey for an outstanding guy!” Once the new senator is sworn in, Republicans will officially have a 53-vote majority. On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., announced his pick to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the upper chamber. He picked Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Moody cannot be sworn in until Rubio officially resigns, which he is expected to do after his likely confirmation to be Secretary of State on Monday. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Biden maintains he will not enforce TikTok ban, plans to punt to Trump administration
The Biden administration on Friday maintained that it will not actively enforce a federal law set to ban the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, instead punting any action to the incoming Trump administration. The Supreme Court issued a ruling earlier in the day upholding the looming ban, which is set to go into effect on Sunday. “The Administration, like the rest of the country, has awaited the decision just made by the U.S. Supreme Court on the TikTok matter. President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement shortly after the decision was handed down. She added: “Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.” SUPREME COURT APPEARS SKEPTICAL OF BLOCKING US BAN ON TIKTOK: WHAT TO KNOW A U.S. official told the Associated Press on Thursday that Biden would not enforce the ban that is set to take effect the day before he is to leave office. Such a move inadvertently leaves the social media app’s fate in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the Supreme Court wrote in its unsigned Friday ruling. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.” READ THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON TIKTOK LAW – APP USERS, CLICK HERE The court continued: “For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed.” Just last year, Congress required that TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance divest the company by Jan. 19. The law was subsequently signed by Biden. TRUMP SAYS FATE OF TIKTOK SHOULD BE IN HIS HANDS WHEN HE RETURNS TO WHITE HOUSE When the law was passed, Congress specifically noted concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership, which members said meant the app had the potential to be weaponized or used to amass vast amounts of user data, including from the roughly 170 million Americans who use TikTok. During oral arguments, Biden administration lawyers argued that the app’s Chinese ownership posed a “grave” national security risk to American users. TikTok’s lawyers, on the other hand, argued that such a ban restricted free speech protections under the First Amendment. First Amendment challenges must be analyzed under strict scrutiny, which places a higher burden of proof on the government when attempting to justify the constitutionality of a law. In this case, the First Amendment protections in question must be crafted to serve a compelling government interest, narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
New set of bills would counter CCP’s Belt and Road initiative: ‘we can mute China’s siren song’
FIRST ON FOX: The Monroe Doctrine is back in full swing – both with President-elect Donald Trump’s push for a takeover of the Panama Canal and new legislation from Rep. Mark Green to encourage investment in Latin America. The Homeland Security chairman and Tennessee Republican put forth a pair of bills on Friday – one to use tariffs to create a low-interest loan program for companies to relocate from China to Latin America. Another would use tariffs collected on Chinese goods to offer a tax incentive to offset moving costs for U.S. companies to bring their operations back to U.S. soil. The Western Hemisphere Nearshoring Act would institute a program through the International Development Finance Corporation to buy down interest rates with tariff money. ‘SAFER, STRONGER, AND FREER’: SECURING THE BORDER SET TO FEATURE LARGE IN NOEM’S OPENING REMARKS TO SENATE Under the Bring American Companies Home Act, amounts paid to move inventory, equipment or supplies used in a trade or business from China to the U.S. would be allowed as a deduction on taxes. The program would be funded through a trust fund of tariffs collected. “Communist China’s malign influence continues to spread throughout the Western Hemisphere. It’s time for us to take a stand. By rebuilding infrastructure and manufacturing jobs in this region, we can mute China’s siren song,” Green told Fox News Digital. The U.S. has long invested heavily in Latin America and the Carribean, but China is South America’s biggest trading partner and benefactor. As part of its Belt and Road initiative, it is increasingly flexing its muscle with grants and loans across the continent. China in November unveiled a megaport in Peru. Lawmakers have begun to float ideas to “reshore” supply chains from China and reassert hegemony in the western hemisphere with trade partnerships throughout the Americas. CHINA ATTACKED US WITH HACKERS. WE NEED TO HIT BACK HARD Vice President Kamala Harris, tapped to lead the border response, focused on the “root causes” of immigration by attempting to bring investment to Latin America to improve conditions for locals so they would not make the dangerous trek to the U.S. border. Trump has signaled that he will re-prioritize the western hemisphere, a priority dating back to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, through calls for the U.S. to take back the Panama Canal. Over the past few weeks, Trump has insisted that China is in control of the canal and that Panama is “ripping off” the U.S. “Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country,” Trump said. “It’s being operated by China — China! — and we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China. They’ve abused that gift.” China is the second-largest user of the canal after the U.S. and a major investor in the country. Two of the canal’s ports of entry are owned by a subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company, CK Hutchison. Beijing also helped finance a new bridge over the waterway.
House Dems threaten to block Trump’s big tariff plans: ‘Unacceptable’
House Democrats are trying to block President-elect Donald Trump from implementing his wide-ranging tariff plans just days before he is set to take office. A new bill led by Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Don Beyer, D-Va., and backed by 11 other Democrats, would block Trump from using presidential emergency powers to roll out higher import taxes. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy a 60% tariff on goods from China and as much as 20% on other countries the U.S. trades with. TRUMP’S PROPOSED TARIFFS ON MEXICO, CANADA, CHINA WILL INCREASE INFLATION, GOLDMAN SACHS WARNS He most recently pledged on Truth Social to create an “External Revenue Service” to “collect our Tariffs, Duties, and all Revenue that come from Foreign sources.” Trump and his allies have argued that the plan would bolster American manufacturing while making it more difficult for adversaries like China to “export their way out of their current economic malaise,” as Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent told senators this week. In theory, the commander in chief is able to bypass Congress to impose sweeping tariffs by declaring an emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, Democrats argue the cost of the tariffs would just be passed on to American consumers. “The American people have clearly and consistently said that the high cost of living is one of their top concerns,” DelBene said in a statement. “Not only would widespread tariffs drive up costs at home and likely send our economy into recession, but they would likely lead to significant retaliation, hurting American workers, farmers, and businesses.” Beyer said, “Trump’s tariff proposals would misuse emergency authorities to raise prices on the American people, which is unacceptable.” However, not all Democrats have rejected the plan. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, a moderate Democrat known to often break from his own party, introduced his own bill this week to impose a universal 10% tariff on all imports. CANADA READIES TRUMP TARIFFS RESPONSE: ‘IN A TRADE WAR, THERE ARE NO WINNERS’ The 10% level would be reassessed each year, with room for a 5% increase or decrease depending on current U.S. economic conditions. He argued in a statement to the Maine Morning Star, “The universal tariff — along with other policies to support domestic energy production, unions and manufacturing — is designed to reorient our economy from one focused on cheap goods and consumption to one centered on production and innovation.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump transition team for comment on both bills.