President Donald Trump has reacted to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his sweeping tariffs – a decision that tears down a central pillar of his administration’s policy agenda. “The Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I’m ashamed of certain members of the court absolutely ashamed,” Trump said. A majority of justices ruled that Trump had overreached in his presidential authority by unilaterally imposing tariffs under national emergency powers.
The Supreme Court ruled against Trump in a 6-3 decision likely to spark a fierce backlash from the president, who has used tariffs aggressively, calling them “beautiful”. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his widespread tariffs, citing threats to U.S. national security, including the globalization of its critical supply chains and a public health crisis caused by the influx of illegal drugs, in particular fentanyl.
But the Constitution grants Congress the power to levy tariffs, and Trump’s use of emergency powers prompted a wave of lawsuits challenging him on the issue. Trump used tariffs as a tool to open closed global markets for the U.S., rebuild the domestic manufacturing base, and coerce its rivals, adversaries, and even allies.
Lower courts ruled in 2025 that the tariffs—some as high as 125 percent and applied broadly after the administration declared a national emergency citing trade deficits and fentanyl flows—exceeded IEEPA’s scope, and the Supreme Court fast-tracked appeals with arguments heard on November 5, 2025. Trump also lost a recent House vote.
The SCOTUS ruling concludes: “We claim no special competence in matters of economics or foreign affairs. We claim only, as we must, the limited role assigned to us by Article III of the Constitution. Fulfilling that role, we hold that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.”
Trump had earlier warned of “chaos” if the Supreme Court ruled against him, writing on Truth Social in January: “Remember, when America shines brightly, the World shines brightly. In other words, if the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, WE’RE SCREWED!” (Newsweek)
