U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse misses deciding vote on Trumps tariffs while visiting South Korea

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) missed a Senate vote on Trump’s global tariffs.

The vote, held Wednesday, ended in a 49-49 tie. Vice President JD Vance broke the deadlock in favor of the Trump administration, sinking the bipartisan resolution. Whitehouse, a strong critic of Trump’s trade policies, was in South Korea attending the Our Ocean summit, representing the United States as the sole American official at the international climate and ocean conference.

According to his office, Whitehouse had long planned the trip and used the opportunity to promote U.S. leadership on maritime security and climate issues. “The senator expressed America’s continued support for the Blue Economy, climate solutions, fisheries, and maritime security, even as the Trump administration cedes leadership on the oceans to the rest of the world,” said spokesperson Meaghan McCabe.

Senate Democrats were hoping to pass a resolution that would revoke Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact sweeping tariffs without congressional approval. Whitehouse had previously supported similar efforts, voting earlier this month to end Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

The missed vote has stirred frustration among Democrats, especially after Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly moved to block any future attempts to reintroduce the resolution. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move, accusing Republicans of working to cement Trump’s tariffs. Saikat Chakrabarti, a left-wing activist and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also criticized Whitehouse’s absence.

Despite his absence, Whitehouse reiterated his opposition to Trump’s trade policies online, posting:
“Trump Economic Train Wreck, Episode One — Stupid Tariffs. Supply chains disrupted. Costs increase. Stock market loses $5 trillion. Consumer confidence crashes 30%. Inflation expectations hit 40-year high. Dow has worst April start since Great Depression.”