Trump Tariffs Ruled Unlawful by Supreme Court

In a rare rebuke of the president's actions, the Supreme Court has struck down the bulk of President Trump's sweeping tariffs, ruling that they are unlawful without congressional authorization. The decision, handed down on Friday, has sparked a battle over refunds for billions of dollars paid by importers over the past year.

The court's decision, which was widely expected to be a close call, has significant implications for the president's trade agenda and the US economy. President Trump has long argued that tariffs are necessary to protect American industries and workers, but critics have argued that they are a tax on consumers and have hurt US businesses.

The Supreme Court's ruling, which was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, found that the president's use of tariffs under the Trade Act of 1974 exceeded his authority. The court held that the president's actions were not authorized by Congress and therefore were unlawful.

President Trump was quick to react to the decision, slamming the Supreme Court justices who ruled against him as "disloyal" and "unpatriotic." "They're very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution," Trump said in a statement. "It's my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that wants to undermine our country."

The decision has sparked a battle over refunds for billions of dollars paid by importers over the past year. The Supreme Court's ruling did not provide guidance on how to handle refunds, leaving it to the administration and Congress to determine the best path forward.

According to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the process of refunding importers could be "a mess." The court's decision has raised questions about how the refunds will be handled, with some arguing that it could take years to resolve the issue.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) said that Congress and the White House will "determine the best path forward in the coming weeks" after the Supreme Court's ruling. "No one can deny that the President's use of tariffs has brought in billions of dollars and helped to level the playing field for American businesses," Johnson said in a statement.

The decision has also sparked a warning from President Trump, who threatened to impose embargoes to "destroy" trade if necessary. "I can impose embargoes, and I can destroy trade if I want to," Trump said in a statement. "I don't think I'll have to, but I can."

The ruling has significant implications for the US economy, particularly for industries that have been affected by the tariffs. The decision could also have implications for the 2024 presidential election, with trade policy likely to be a key issue.

In a separate development, Democratic governors are facing a decision on whether to opt into a federal school-choice program that could result in a significant wealth transfer out of their states if they don't participate. The program, which is part of a broader education reform effort, has sparked controversy among Democrats, with some arguing that it could hurt public schools.

The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs has added to the uncertainty surrounding the program, with some arguing that it could have implications for the federal budget and the economy as a whole.

As the battle over refunds and the future of the president's trade agenda continues, one thing is clear: the Supreme Court's ruling has significant implications for the US economy and the 2024 presidential election.