BREAKING: Supreme Court Nukes Trump’s Global Tariffs in 6-3 Rebuke

In a blunt 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs were illegal—stripping away one of his most aggressive second-term tools. #TrumpTariffs

SCOTUS showed some balls to Trump and Trump doesn’t like it.

The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs without clear authorization from Congress.

“Had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly,” Roberts wrote.

The court rejected Trump’s reliance on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify tariffs on nearly every country—along with separate duties targeting Canada, Mexico and China over fentanyl and trade deficits. Three conservatives—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh—dissented, because—apparently—they can’t read the US Constitution.

The ruling wipes out the bulk of Trump’s second-term tariff regime, which the Tax Foundation estimated would raise $1.5 trillion over a decade. Markets cheered modestly. Stocks ticked up. The dollar dipped. Treasury yields edged higher. Wall Street clearly prefers constitutional clarity to executive improvisation.

What happens next is the real question. The administration could try to reimpose tariffs under narrower trade statutes, though those come with procedural hurdles and limits. Trump could also seek explicit congressional approval—an uphill climb in a divided government.

And then there’s the messy issue of refunds. Hundreds of companies have filed protective lawsuits seeking repayment of duties already paid. Even Justice Kavanaugh warned that clawing back the money could be a “mess” with “significant consequences for the U.S. Treasury.”

This marks the first time the high court has definitively struck down a signature Trump second-term policy. In other areas, the conservative majority has given him broad latitude. On tariffs, they drew a line.

Source: WSJ (free)

Editor: Presidents don’t get to declare trade deficits a national emergency and start taxing the planet. Congress writes tax law. The Court just reminded everyone who holds the receipt book.