January 1, Court Blocks Trump Tariffs But Fight Continues

Wyatt’s Take

• The court says tariff power belongs to Congress, not the president.
• Trump vows to keep fighting for tariffs he says protect American workers.
• The legal battle could head all the way to the Supreme Court.

A federal appeals court ruled that President Trump did not have the power to issue sweeping tariffs, siding with a previous court decision. Despite this, the tariffs remain in place while the Supreme Court is considered as the next step in the legal fight.

The court’s 7-4 ruling says Congress controls tariff decisions, not the White House. The court explained that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn’t hand broad tariff authority to the president.

“Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” Trump posted. “It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”

One legal expert called the decision ordinary and based on constitutional limits. “The court noted that Trump’s interpretation of IEEPA would be an unconstitutional delegation of Congress’s power,” Phillip Magness explained. He added, “It’s also clear that the administration’s legal strategy in this case backfired.”

Neal Katyal from Liberty Justice Center called the ruling a win for the Constitution, saying, “The decision today is a powerful reaffirmation of our nation’s core constitutional commitments from our nation’s Founders, especially the principle that Presidents must act within the rule of law.”

Trump insists tariffs are necessary. “The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else,” he wrote. He also said tariffs protect jobs and keep America strong, especially for people who make American products.

The White House plans to keep appealing this decision. Experts say if the Supreme Court reviews the case, it could set a big precedent about presidential power.

A tariff is a tax on goods from other countries, often used to protect jobs at home or influence trade deals.

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Wyatt Matters

American jobs and a fair shake in world trade matter deeply to families in the heartland. When leaders fight for tools like tariffs, it’s about making sure blue-collar folks and local businesses aren’t left behind by global deals. This court case is more than legal talk—it’s about the future of hard-working American workers.