President Donald Trump denounced an Appeals Court ruling on Friday that blocked his tariffs, saying he would take the matter to the Supreme Court.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump insisted, “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!” He went on to bash the federal Appeals Court that issued the ruling, warning that the decision would hurt the country.
“Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong,” Trump said.
The president laid out his case for tariffs and went so far as to argue that, “If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.”
“At the start of this Labor Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products. For many years, Tariffs were allowed to be used against us by our uncaring and unwise Politicians. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again!” he concluded.
A split U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 on Friday that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited to issue his so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs and tariffs aimed at Canada, Mexico, and China, does not grant the president the power to levy tariffs and ruled those tariffs unlawful.
“We conclude Congress, in enacting IEEPA, did not give the President wide-ranging authority to impose tariffs of the nature of the Trafficking and Reciprocal Tariffs simply by the use of the term ‘regulate…importation,’” the majority opinion said.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance praised the decision, though it urged the courts to go further in their ruling.
APPEALS COURT RULES TRUMP ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFFS UNLAWFUL
“Today’s decision comes as no surprise. Every court that has looked at the substance of the IEEPA has concluded that it does not give the President power to evade congressional limits on tariff authority imposed in other statutes. Given the number of countries affected, this case calls for a ‘universal’ injunction—no hyperbole required!” NCLA President Mark Chenoweth said in a statement.
The ruling is a major legal blow to Trump, who has staked much of his economic strategy for his second term on sweeping tariffs. He has also used tariffs as a central diplomatic strategy, which the ruling could jeopardize.
