WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling today claims that Presidents do not have the power to levy global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and after the bizarre ruling was announced, President Donald Trump declared all current tariffs shall remain in effect, and slapped a new 10% global tariff upon the planet.
Chief Justice Jon Roberts wrote for the majority of the Court, “The IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Justices Alito, Kavanaugh and Thomas dissented in the 6-3 ruling.
This did not slow down President Trump, however. He announced a press conference today, “Effective immediately, all National Security TARIFFS, Section 232 and existing Section 301 TARIFFS, remain in place, and in full force and effect. Today I will sign an Order to impose a 10% GLOBAL TARIFF, under Section 122, over and above our normal TARIFFS already being charged.”
Iowa’s Senator, Chuck Grassley weighed in on the development:
More on this evolving situation to come, even as President Trump said today’s ruling could be churned through courts for years to come.
In subsequent remarks today, President Trump declared victory in the ruling, saying, “Based on longstanding law and victories…the Supreme Court did not overrule tariffs. They merely overruled one use of IEEPA tariffs.” “The ability to block, embargo, restrict, license or impose any other condition on a foreign country’s ability to conduct trade with the US under IEEPA has been fully confirmed by this decision.”
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/5UudUfHe42 pic.twitter.com/un5zFbSEJl
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 20, 2026
“Let’s be clear about what today’s ruling was and what it wasn’t. Despite the misplaced gloating from Democrats, ill-informed media outlets, and the very people who gutted our industrial base, the Court did not rule against President Trump’s tariffs. Six justices simply ruled that IEEPA authorities cannot be used to raise even $1 of revenue. This administration will invoke alternative legal authorities to replace the IEEPA tariffs. We will be leveraging Section 232 and Section 301 tariff authorities that have been validated through thousands of legal challenges. Treasury’s estimates show that the use of Section 122 authority, combined with potentially enhanced Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs, will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026.”
3 thoughts on “Supreme Court deals blow to President’s tariff powers; Trump slaps levy across globe”
I don’t call this a victory “President Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court on Friday over its ruling striking down tariffs he has imposed under an emergency powers law, saying he was “absolutely ashamed” of the justices who ruled against him.
Speaking at the White House hours after the ruling came down, the president also announced that he will sign an order imposing a 10% global tariff under a different authority, an indication that he is not backing down from his trade agenda despite the court’s rebuke.
The court ruled 6-3 that a law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. The ruling was the president’s most significant defeat at the Supreme Court since he returned to office.
Mr. Trump harshly criticized the justices who ruled against him, hinting without evidence that the court has been “swayed by foreign interests.” The majority included three liberals and three conservatives, including two who were named to the bench by Mr. Trump.”
Oh boy, now he is refusing to obey the highest court in the land. You can’t be okay with this, can you? BTW, the SCOTUS doesn’t “claim” he doesn’t have the power to enforce tariffs, they ruled he doesn’t. As the highest court in the land, they have power over everyone and I would bet that new impeachment motions will be coming shortly, followed by my of his former Republican supporters in Congress going along with the impeachment.
Trump is actually declaring victory after the ruling… outcome is still evolving