Just days after a federal appeals court struck down the bulk of tariffs imposed during his administration, US President Donald Trump issued a fiery response, warning that removing the levies would “completely destroy” the country and cripple its military strength. Writing on Truth Social, Trump denounced the 7-4 ruling as the work of a “Radical Left group of judges” but praised one Democratic judge, appointed by former President Barack Obama, for siding with him and showing what he called “courage” to “save our Country.”
The appeals court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by enacting sweeping tariffs on nearly every nation, calling the move an “unprecedented overreach of executive authority.” The judges emphasized that the Constitution grants Congress—not the president—the power to levy tariffs and taxes. Still, the court allowed certain targeted tariffs to remain in place, including those on steel, aluminum, autos, and China-specific imports, which the Biden administration has upheld.
The ruling did not immediately eliminate the broader tariffs, giving the Trump administration until mid-October to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, Trump vowed that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT,” insisting their removal would be disastrous for the economy and national security.
Earlier this year, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs of up to 50 percent on countries running trade surpluses with the US, along with a 10 percent baseline levy on most imports. While some nations, including the UK, Japan, and the EU, agreed to new trade arrangements, others faced heavier penalties. Trump justified the measures by declaring US trade deficits a national emergency, citing threats tied to immigration, drug trafficking, and foreign economic competition.
