The US Supreme Court has ruled President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs unlawful, dealing a significant blow to his executive authority. In a 6-3 decision, the court found that Trump exceeded his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), declaring that tariffs are taxes and thus the sole domain of Congress.
The ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts join forces with two of Trump’s own appointees—Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett—alongside the three liberal-leaning justices to form the majority. This marked a rare defection from the conservative bloc that has largely supported Trump’s agenda, including granting him absolute immunity from criminal prosecution earlier in his second term.
Trump reacted furiously on social media, branding the liberal justices as “FOOLS” and “LAPDOGS,” while praising the three conservatives who dissented as possessing “strength, wisdom, and love of our Country.” His outburst underscored the tension between the president and a court that had previously given him wide latitude.
Legal experts hailed the decision as a reassertion of constitutional separation of powers. Barb McQuade, a law professor at the University of Michigan, said the court had finally remembered that “Congress is a separate and co-equal branch of government.” The ruling strips Trump of a key tool he had used to pressure foreign nations, with midterm elections looming.
Observers noted that Chief Justice Roberts, who authored the opinion, reasserted his influence over the court after a period in which its rightward drift had sidelined him. The decision suggests limits to the court’s deference to presidential power, even under a conservative majority.
