Story Highlights
- President Trump denounces trade court ruling requiring Congressional approval for tariffs.
- The Federal Circuit has stayed the lower court’s decision, keeping tariffs in effect.
- Trump warns the ruling threatens the balance of executive authority in trade policy.
President Donald J. Trump on Friday strongly criticized a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which declared that tariffs imposed during his previous administration required approval from Congress. The decision has sparked legal and political debate over the scope of presidential authority on trade policy.
Background: Trade Court Challenges Presidential Power
The Manhattan-based court ruled that certain tariffs enacted by President Trump lacked Congressional authorization. The court said that presidential power alone could not justify wide-reaching tariff programs without legislative consent. However, the ruling was quickly put on hold by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which granted a stay while the case proceeds.
During his first term, President Trump used tariffs aggressively as a tool to rebalance trade relationships—particularly with China. The administration cited national security concerns and economic necessity. Trump’s actions were widely praised by some business sectors but sharply criticized by free trade advocates and international partners.
Trump Responds on Truth Social
Reacting to the court decision, President Trump posted a lengthy statement on Truth Social. He questioned the motives of the three trade court judges, calling the decision “so wrong, and so political.” He said it would severely damage the United States’ ability to negotiate and defend its economic interests.
President Trump argued that the ruling, if upheld, would force the White House to wait months for Congressional approval on time-sensitive trade actions. According to his post, such delays could “completely destroy Presidential Power” and would mark “the harshest financial ruling ever leveled on us as a Sovereign Nation.”
Criticism of The Federalist Society
In a rare rebuke of his former allies, President Trump criticized The Federalist Society, a conservative legal group that advised him on judicial nominations. He alleged that the group, under Leonard Leo’s influence, led him to nominate judges who were now undermining core presidential powers.
Federal Circuit Issues Temporary Reprieve
Fortunately for the Trump administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a stay, temporarily blocking the trade court’s ruling. This allows existing tariffs to remain in place while the appellate process unfolds.
Legal experts believe the matter could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The stakes are high: If the ruling stands, it could limit not only Trump’s trade agenda but the broader ability of presidents to act swiftly on global economic threats.
What Comes Next
The legal battle is far from over. However, the temporary stay signals that the judiciary is not yet settled on the limits of executive power in trade. President Trump remains confident that the Supreme Court will overturn the decision. He described the ruling as one that other nations are celebrating—while warning that it could undercut America’s strength on the world stage.
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