¶ Overview
In 2025, John James voted four times to protect Trump’s tariffs, including in April when he was the deciding vote to protect the tariffs from being repealed by Congress, dooming Michiganders who relied on him to a trade war and rising prices. Tariffs are contributing to higher food prices and are hurting Michigan small businesses, farmers, and families.
John James said Trump’s tariffs “level the playing field,” even though the U.S. stock market crashed due to Trump’s escalating global trade war.
¶ John James Was The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs Despite The Harm They Could Cause To Michigan’s Economy
¶ John James Repeatedly Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
¶ September 2025: John James Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
September 2025: John James Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through March 2026. In September 2025, John James voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the resolution [that] would allow for the tolling (the pausing of counting) of days for resolutions of inquiry from Sept. 30, 2025 through March 31, 2026. It also would provide that each day during the period from April 9, 2025, through March 31, 2026. would not constitute a calendar day for the purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's April 2, 2025 executive order declaring a national emergency regarding tariffs on imported goods. The resolution also would provide that during the period for March 11, 2025 through March 31, 2026, would not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency executive order declared by President Trump on Feb. 1, 2025. Such an executive order concerned tariffs on many Canadian and Mexican imports and Chinese goods. The resolution also would provide that the provisions of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act would not apply through March 31, 2026 to a joint resolution terminating the national emergency.” The vote was on the rule. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 213 to 211. [House Vote 268, 9/16/25; Congressional Quarterly, 9/16/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 707; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Support Was Won From GOP Holdouts Through A Promise Of A Vote Later In The Week To Shorten The Block To End In January Rather Than March. According to Politico, “GOP leaders flipped several of the Republican holdouts with a promise to add language shortening the block on tariff disapproval votes to a forthcoming measure set for approval later in the week, per two Republicans with direct knowledge of the agreement. The expiration date on the block will be reset from March 31 to the end of January, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday. It’s likely the Supreme Court will have ruled on a challenge to Trump’s tariff-declaring powers by then.” [Politico, 9/16/25]
¶ April 2025: John James Cast The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
April 2025: John James Cast The Deciding Vote For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In March 2025, according to Congressional Quarterly, John James voted for the “adoption of the rule (H Res 313) that would provide for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the rule. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 budget resolution. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 216 to 215. [House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Speaker Johnson Backed The Move, Claiming Trump Had “Executive Authority” And That The Tariffs Were “In The Interest Of The American People.” According to ABC News, “House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the move, telling reporters, ‘I've made it very clear I think the president has executive authority. It's an appropriate level of authority to deal with the unfair trade practices. That's part of the role of the president is to negotiate with other countries.’ Johnson said Trump told him Tuesday night that ‘there are almost 70 countries that are [in] some stage in negotiation of more fair-trade agreement agreements with the United States. I think that is in the interest of the American people. I think that is an ‘America First’ policy that will be effective, and so we have to give them the space to do it.’” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
- The Vote Was The Second Use Of The Procedural Tactic To Block Votes On The Tariffs, The First Use Of It Being In March 2025. According to ABC News, “House Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., moved to force a vote on Tuesday on terminating the national emergency authority and blocking Trump's sweeping tariffs. Now, that vote is unlikely to occur. This is the second time Johnson has moved to stop the legislative calendar to prevent votes on Trump's authority on tariffs. Under House rules, these votes would typically come up within 15 calendar days but now will not if the ‘rule’ passes during the vote series Wednesday afternoon.” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
¶ If One “Aye” Vote Had Switched To A “No” On House Vote 94, The Measure Would Have Failed Instead Of Passing
The Measure Considered In House Vote 94 Passed By A Vote Of 216 “Ayes” To 215 “Nos,” Which Meant If One Aye Vote Had Switched To A No Vote, The Measure Would Have Failed.
[House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
¶ April 2025: John James Effectively Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
April 2025: John James Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In March 2025, John James voted for, “motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 313) that would providing for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the previous question. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 217 to 212. [House Vote 93, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313]
¶ March 2025: John James Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
March 2025: John James Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs. In March 2025, John James voted for, “the bill that would provide for Congressional disapproval of, and nullify, a December 2024 IRS rule related to gross proceeds reporting by brokers involved in digital asset sales. The rule imposed reporting requirements, beginning in 2027, on non-custodial brokers who participate in the decentralized digital asset market. It also required brokers to file information returns and provide payee statements reporting gross proceeds from certain digital asset sales and transactions.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 292 to 132. [House Vote 71, 3/11/25; Congressional Quarterly, 3/11/25; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 25]
- The Bill Effectively Blocked The House From Voting To Reverse Trump’s Tariffs On Mexico, Canada, And China For The Next Year. According to the New York Times, “Republican leaders on Tuesday slipped language into a procedural measure that would prevent any resolution to end the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China from receiving a vote this year. It passed on party lines as part of a resolution that cleared the way for a vote later Tuesday on a government spending bill needed to prevent a shutdown at the end of the week.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The Bill Nullified A Law That Would Allow The House And Senate To End A Disaster Declared By The President. According to the New York Times, “In this case, Republican leaders did so using a particularly unusual contortion: They essentially declared the rest of the year one long day, nullifying a law that allows the House and Senate to jointly put an end to a disaster declared by the president.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The National Emergencies Act Required Consideration Of Resolutions Ending A Presidentially Declared Emergency Within Fifteen Calendar Days But Republican Leadership Included A Measure In The Bill Declaring The Rest Of The Year Did Not Constitute A Calendar Day. According to the New York Times, “The national emergency law lays out a fast-track process for Congress to consider a resolution ending a presidential emergency, requiring committee consideration within 15 calendar days after one is introduced and a floor vote within three days after that. But the language House Republicans inserted in their measure on Tuesday declared that, ‘Each day for the remainder of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day’ for the purposes of the emergency that Mr. Trump declared on Feb. 1.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
¶ John James Supported Trump’s Devastating Tariffs, Even As The Stock Market Crashed
¶ John James Said Trump’s Tariffs “Level The playing Field”
2025: John James Said On CBS' Face The Nation That Tariffs Were Meant To “Level The Playing Field.” According To The Transcript From CBS's Face The Nation on March 2, 2025, John James said “We are not operating- You know, you can go talk to the CEO of Ford but what I'm dealing with is people I'm talking with when I visit factory floors each and every single day. I am an automotive supplier in the United States of America, and I feel this pain. We've seen it for too long, and like I've said, we've been taken advantage of for years, and we need to level the playing field. When you're not playing fair with America, then we have to do what we can to make sure that we can compete on a fair playing field. And Margaret, I think that fairness is what we should be pursuing, and I don't think that's wrong to ask for out of our allies and our partners.” [CBS News, 3/2/25] (VIDEO)
April 2-4, 2025: The U.S. Stock Market Crashed As Trump’s Tariffs “Escalated A Global Trade War And Wiped Out Trillions Of Dollars In Value.” According to NPR, “Wall Street plummeted for a second straight day on Friday, as President Trump's tariffs escalated a global trade war and wiped out trillions of dollars in value from the U.S. stock market. The two-day selloff served as the financial community's most brutal warning yet about the potential fallout of Trump's trade policy. Investors, businesses, and consumers are all expressing mounting terror about how these sweeping new taxes could upend the global economy.” [NPR, 4/4/25]
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Were Hurting Small Businesses, Farmers, And Families In Michigan
HEADLINE: “Grocery Inflation Highest Since 2022 As Trump Tariffs Pile Up” [Axios, 9/16/25]
HEADLINE: “Detroit Boutique Owner Details Impacts Of Tariffs As Deadline For Deals Passes Without Ceremony” [Michigan Advance, 7/10/25]
November 2025: State Of Michigan Report Linked Trump’s Tariffs To Rising Prices And Plunging Farm Exports. According to Center Square, “The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported steep drops in farm exports in the first half of 2025, including an 89% decline in wheat and a 62% decline in cherries, as retaliatory tariffs cut off key markets. Food processors and packagers faced higher input costs, pushing food prices up and reducing disposable income for low-income families.” [Center Square, 11/7/25]
November 2025: State Of Michigan Report Warned Trump’s Tariffs Were Squeezing Family Budgets And Slowing Job Growth. According to News From The States, “A newly released multi-agency report from the state of Michigan warns that federal tariffs and retaliatory trade measures are driving up costs for families, homebuyers and workers across the state. […] The report cautions that higher food prices and rising housing costs may squeeze household budgets, particularly for lower-income families. Additionally, delayed or more expensive public projects could slow job creation and economic growth.” [News From The States, 11/6/25]
July 2025: Detroit Small Business Owner Warned That Trump’s Tariffs Hurt Local Shops Competing Against Big Corporations. According to Michigan Advance, “Rachel Lutz, the owner of The Peacock Room in Detroit, said she started her business by maxing out a $1,500 credit card, and had since grown to generate $1.5 million in revenue a year, creating 12 to 14 jobs. […] Lutz said she carries products from overseas to give a wide price range to her customers, noting that she serves a very mixed-income neighborhood in the city. ‘As a small business, we are competing against big, big players that ahead of the tariffs going into effect, they were able to ship massive amounts of inventory, warehouse them to buffer their impact from these tariffs. Small businesses like mine don’t have that capability. We don’t have those large pockets of capital to draw upon’ Lutz said, emphasizing that small businesses are particularly vulnerable to tariffs levied on consumer goods.” [Michigan Advance, 7/10/25]
April 2025: Michigan Small Business Owner Said Trump’s Tariffs Triggered A 24% Price Increase. According to Bridge Michigan, “When Chris Bennett heard President Donald Trump was imposing across-the-board tariffs on foreign imports, he expected price increases on the ink, paper and other supplies he uses in his Dearborn print shop. But Bennett didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Trump on Wednesday announced sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, levying near-universal 10% taxes on foreign imports that took effect Saturday and promising even higher taxes on goods from China, Japan, the European Union and other nations starting April 9. By Friday afternoon, suppliers were notifying Bennett of a 24% price increase on the Epson ink cartridges, paper and printers used in his shop. The company, based in Japan, was passing on all costs from the new tariff Trump had proposed just days before. ‘So many people think it’ll just be Ford and the big corporations that will get hit with these price increases,’ said Bennett, whose Image Works shop specializes in archival-quality printing for photos and art. ‘I knew prices would go up for me. But 24% so quickly, within two or three days? That was pretty shocking.’” [Bridge Michigan, 4/7/25]