The Trump administration has secured a crucial temporary reprieve in its efforts to uphold its sweeping tariff policies, as an appeals court has paused a lower court’s ruling that declared the tariffs illegal. This pause offers vital breathing room for the White House as it prepares its appeal, potentially escalating the case to the Supreme Court. The initial ruling had threatened to dismantle a core tenet of Trump’s economic strategy.
The Court of International Trade’s decision specifically stated that Trump’s tariff orders “exceed any authority granted to the president,” challenging his interpretation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court clarified that its judgment was on the legality of the tariffs’ application, not their economic wisdom or intent.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has strongly criticized the judiciary, accusing judges of “brazenly abus[ing] their judicial power.” This ongoing legal battle underscores the significant constitutional questions surrounding presidential authority in matters of trade and national emergency.