Republican Senators Warn Trump Mexico Tariff Gambit May Not Have Support

Republican senators warned on Tuesday that the White House may not have support from members of their party in Congress for threatened tariffs on Mexican imports, while President Donald Trump said lawmakers would be foolish to try to stop his plan.

At a closed-door luncheon on Capitol Hill, Republicans told officials from the White House counsel's office about their concerns over Trump's threat to impose tariffs on goods imported from Mexico next week.

Senator Ron Johnson warned the White House not to count on the same level of backing it got from Republicans earlier this year, when Trump declared a national emergency to divert funds to build barriers at the border with Mexico.

Congress voted to reject that move by Trump, although just 12 of the 53 Senate Republicans joined Democrats then.

"We’re not real fond of tariffs, so don’t assume you can have the exact same level of support. That was my basic message," Johnson told reporters.

Senator John Thune, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, also told reporters a vote to approve tariffs on Mexico "would be a heavier lift" for Republicans than the border emergency declaration.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he doubted congressional Republicans would follow through with any rebuke and that he expected tariffs on goods imported from Mexico to go forward next week.

"I don't think they will do that. I think if they do, it's foolish," Trump said at a news conference in London, where he was on a state visit to the United Kingdom, citing his broad support among Republican lawmakers.