Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Review
On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump addressed the media in the Oval Office, announcing the relocation of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters from Colorado to Alabama.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a 7-4 ruling on Friday, asserting that Trump lacks the authority to implement the majority of his tariffs. As a result, the court has postponed the ruling’s implementation until October 14 to provide the Trump administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Trump’s Reaction to Appeals Court Ruling
In response to the ruling, Trump expressed his concerns, stating, “If you take away tariffs, we could end up being a third-world country.” He emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “We’re going to be going to the Supreme Court, we think tomorrow, because we need an early decision.” He believes the matter is critical to the nation’s economic stability, claiming that the “financial fabric of our country” is at stake.
Further, Trump indicated that he would request an expedited ruling from the Supreme Court, saying, “We’re going to be asking for early admittance … we’re going to ask for expedited, an expedited ruling.” He also suggested that the recent appeal ruling negatively impacted the stock market, stating, “The stock market’s down because of that, because the stock market needs the tariffs. They want the tariffs.”
Details on the Tariffs in Question
The tariffs challenged in the ruling were established by Trump this year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, imposing significant duties as high as 50% on imports from various countries. These tariffs specifically targeted China, Canada, and Mexico, which are among the largest trading partners of the U.S., citing their insufficient actions to combat the flow of the opioid fentanyl into the country.
The Federal Circuit court contended that the power to impose tariffs is a function reserved for Congress, stating, “The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution.” If the Supreme Court upholds this decision, a vast majority of imports into the U.S. could potentially be exempt from tariffs.
The Tax Foundation had previously indicated that under Trump’s tariffs, nearly 70% of U.S. imports would be impacted. However, if the ruling is sustained, only about 16% of imports would incur tariffs.
This situation remains dynamic. Please check back for updates.
