WATCH: Warnock Delivers Senate Floor Speech After Successfully Negotiating Restraints on Trump’s Tariff Authority

Today, Senator Reverend Warnock delivered a Senate floor speech reaffirming his commitment to reining in the Trump administration's costly tariff regime

Earlier this week, Senator Warnock secured a key concession from the U.S. Trade Representative limiting the President's tariff authority

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, reaffirmed his commitment to reining in President Donald Trump's reckless and costly tariff agenda in a speech on the Senate floor.

Earlier this week, Senator Warnock successfully negotiated an agreement with the Trump administration to limit the President's tariff authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

"These are not normal times. This is not a normal president," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. We don't have to imagine. We are seeing it in real time, and everyday people, as a result of that, are struggling-struggling to buy groceries, struggling to buy gas, struggling to buy their kids back-to-school supplies. They are the ones who are suffering the consequences of his reckless tariff regime. But this commitment that we were able to get from Ambassador Greer is meaningful, because if the President ignores the law, if he oversteps his power, we will see him in court."

The non-partisan Tax Foundation found President Trump's tariffs cost the average American household $1,000 last year. Most American families are on track to lose $1,300 from President Trump's tariffs in 2026. Last week, Senator Warnock unveiled a new report that found the cost of required school supplies for a 4th grader can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Senator Warnock continues to push back against the Trump administration's reckless tariff policy and the uncertain market conditions it creates for Georgia small businesses and the higher prices it imposes on Georgia families.

Read the full transcript of Senator Reverend Warnock's remarks below and watch HERE.

"Mr. President, this letter restricts the President's tariff authority under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This is a small but meaningful victory for all Americans who continue to suffer under this President's reckless tariffs.

"Let's be clear: Putin is a war criminal, and his war machine must be stopped. But we should not have to choose between putting a check on Putin's aggression and putting a check on this president's tariff regime. That is a false choice, and it is one that I am not willing to accept, and so I hope in the coming hours that we go further during the amendment process. I hope my colleagues will join me in stripping out any new presidential tariff authorities.

"These are not normal times. This is not a normal president. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. We don't have to imagine. We are seeing it in real time, and everyday people, as a result of that, are struggling-struggling to buy groceries, struggling to buy gas, struggling to buy their kids back-to-school supplies. They are the ones who are suffering the consequences of his reckless tariff regime. But this commitment that we were able to get from Ambassador Greer is meaningful, because if the President ignores the law, if he oversteps his power, we will see him in court.

"I hope this week-long process was the first step in Congress reasserting its role and placing guardrails on this president's tariff regime. I urge my colleagues to go back home and talk to ordinary folks outside of the Beltway, they will tell you that while they support any efforts to protect our national security-and that's what this is about, this isn't just about Ukraine; it is about our own national security. But we must do everything to protect our national security while, at the same time, bolstering the economic security of everyday Americans.

"So, as we go back home, ask any parent you meet how much back-to-school shopping cost them this year. I can tell you, as the father of two small children, that it is much more than they wanted to spend. When we come back to Washington, we can fight for those parents and build on this work to check the power of this reckless president. But I'm glad that we've gotten as far as we have on this issue.

"I'd like to thank my friend and brother, Senator Cassidy, for your partnership in this amendment process, and I'd like to thank Senator Shaheen and Blumenthal for their efforts to find a solution and a way forward to support Ukraine, to protect our national security and our economic security at the same time. And with that, I yield back."

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