Evening Report — Trump shows his hand on tariffs

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View Online Evening Report  PRESENTED BY  Wednesday, April 2 | By Elizabeth Crisp TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS ©  Getty Images Trump set to reveal sweeping tariff plans President Trump's long-awaited day of reciprocal tariffs has arrived.   The president is expected to outline the specifics of what he's dubbed "Liberation Day" during a Rose Garden event set for 4 p.m. EDT. Watch it here.   The tariff details and full scope have been closely guarded before his remarks.   The president was reportedly still finessing his tariff plan — and deciding whether to go with a 20 percent tariff on most imports, a flat tax on imports from certain countries or customized import tax rates for other countries — ahead of his event.   Trump's 25 percent tariff on Canadian auto imports also is expected to go into effect, on top of other taxes he's levied on Canada, Mexico and China since returning to the White House in January.   The looming announcement already has sent ripples around the world in the days and weeks leading up to this afternoon.   5 key questions for Trump's speech from The Hill's Sylvan Lane. 'MAKE AMERICA WEALTHY AGAIN'? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took Trump and his allies in Congress to task ahead of the plan's unveiling, saying the administration's "Liberation Day" is the public's "Recession Day."   "That's what the Trump tariffs are going to do: Crash the economy," Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday.   An independent analysis from the Yale Budget Lab found a 20 percent broad tariff on all imports could put a squeeze on most households.   "This is equivalent to a loss of purchasing power of $3,400-4,200 per household on average in 2024 dollars," according to the report. MEANWHILE... The Senate could vote Wednesday night on legislation that would be an awkward setback on Trump's "Liberation Day" celebration.   The resolution, largely led by Democrats, would upend the emergency declaration Trump used for his tariffs on imports from Canada, and the upper chamber's GOP leaders are bracing for its passage.   It would need some Republican support, but its passage appears likely and has already caught Trump's attention.   He took aim at Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) in a 235-word Truth Social post Wednesday, urging the quartet to "get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change." "The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it," Trump wrote. "To the people of the Great States of Kentucky, Alaska, and Maine, please contact these Senators and get them to FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals. They have been extremely difficult to deal with and, unbelievably disloyal to hardworking Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Party itself."   The Hill's Alexander Bolton notes: "The resolution doesn't have the force of law and won't get a vote in the House, but it is a powerful expression of opposition to Trump's trade war against Canada." 💡Perspectives: • The Washington Post: Trump just handed the global auto market to China. • MSNBC: We've been down Trump's 'Liberation Day' road before. It didn't end well. • Washington Examiner: Trump seems bent on political self-harm. • Business Insider: I was laid off from the federal government. Here's why I turned down an offer to go back to the job. Read more:  • Carville on Trump tariffs: 'It's just his ego playing itself out in public.' • Senate Republican: Trump 'very well aware' of potential tariff risks. • The Memo: Inside Trump's big gamble on tariffs. CATCH UP QUICK The Department of Health and Human Services has fired all workers in its program that seeks to help low-income Americans pay their energy bills.   Top Trump aides were set to meet with the president to discuss a potential TikTok deal today, amid reports that Amazon is making a play for the popular video-sharing app. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) set a new record for the longest Senate speech in history Monday and Tuesday by holding the upper chamber's floor for more than 25 hours.  AT THE POLLS ©  Associated Press Election night in America: Mixed bag for Republicans Republicans on Wednesday were working through their mixed bag of election outcomes in Wisconsin and Florida.   The GOP held onto two Florida House seats, albeit by much smaller margins than in those districts five months ago, giving Republicans wiggle room for the razor-thin majority in the House.   But in Wisconsin, which President Trump narrowly won in the 2024 election, liberal Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford trounced conservative Brad Schimel by 10 points, despite a heavy play by Trump and his allies who saw the election as an opportunity to shift the state's high court from its liberal tilt toward their favor.   The outcome is seen as a major blow to Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, both of whom had endorsed Schimel.   Musk, a key ally of Trump who poured millions into supporting Schimel and traveled to Wisconsin to rally voters, had warned that the race "might decide the future of America and Western civilization," but he downplayed the outcome Wednesday.   "I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns.   The Hill's Julia Manchester and Caroline Vakil have outlined the major themes that emerged from election night.   On Wisconsin:    "The election offers a warning sign for Republicans that Musk could be politically toxic in other key elections. Democratic candidates running in elections later this November and next year have already started to hammer Musk in their messaging."   Deep down in Florida:   Florida state official Jimmy Patronis won the special election to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz in the House, while Florida state Sen. Randy Fine won the special election to replace Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz.   "Despite the fact Republicans turned out in Florida and ultimately nabbed wins, the party still underperformed in both special House elections."   The wins in Florida will boost the GOP's slim majority in the House to 220, with 213 Democratic members and two vacancies in left-leaning districts. That gives GOP leaders a comfortable enough lead to cover for a few Republican defectors and still advance Trump's agenda.   House leadership canceled votes for the rest of this week after some Republican members joined Democrats to bring proceedings to a halt Tuesday in a dispute over allowing new parents to vote remotely. 💡Perspectives: • Fox News: I'm a Democratic strategist with an urgent warning for my fellow Dems. • The Wall Street Journal: The MAGA Backlash Arrives. • Los Angeles Times: Yes, America absolutely should annex Greenland and Canada. Here's why. • The Hill: Building bridges: How Congress can shift town halls from conflict to collaboration Read more:  • Scott Walker on Wisconsin race: Trump voters 'don't vote in spring elections.' • Gov. Ron DeSantis slams GOP winner in Florida special election: 'He's a squish.' • Former Biden HHS Secretary Becerra launches bid for California governor. CONTENT FROM OUR SPONSOR IN OTHER NEWS ©  Associated Press Judge criticizes Trump DOJ while dismissing Adams case The corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) was dismissed Wednesday, freeing the embattled city leader to focus on his campaign for a second term.    Adams, who was indicted on five counts including bribery and fraud in September, said during a brief news conference at City Hall that he was happy to see an end to what he described as "a baseless case." He has maintained since the indictment that he was not guilty.   "What I want you to know is that I never stopped working for you," he said Wednesday.   The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the court to dismiss the charges against Adams in February, arguing that Adams couldn't carry out his mayoral duties — namely the immigration enforcement and public safety efforts backed by President Trump's administration.   Though he agreed to dismiss the case, Judge Dale Ho wrote in the ruling that the Justice Department's argument that the charges would stymie Adams's ability to help with the administration's immigration crackdown "is both unprecedented and breathtaking in its sweep."    Because the judge's order came "with prejudice" the DOJ cannot reopen the case.   The dismissal comes less than three months before the city's June 24 primary and just a day before the deadline for Adams to file petition signatures he's been gathering to get on the ballot.   Adams wouldn't say Tuesday whether he had obtained enough signatures yet.   Adams repeatedly waved off accusations of engaging in a quid pro quo arrangement with the Trump administration to drop federal charges in exchange for helping Trump's immigration crackdown in New York City. He notably joined Trump border czar Tom Homan for a February appearance on Fox News's "Fox and Friends." 💡Perspectives: • New York Magazine: Eric Adams Gets Off Scot-free. • New York Post: Imagine how good the new NYPD stats would be if the left wasn't helping criminals. Read more:  • Adams plugs Patel book on 'deep state' in remarks after charges dropped. Stay Engaged Someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up to get your own copy: TheHill.com/Evening. Did I miss a story? Drop me a line. See you next time! Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  Sign Up for Other Newsletters 400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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