Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping tariff agenda
The Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff agenda, dealing the president a significant loss to his economic plan.
In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, which he unilaterally imposed on nearly every country, were wrong.
The court’s majority found that the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to impose taxes and tariffs.
A tractor trailer leaves PortMiami with a container on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Miami. | Marta Lavender
“The Framers did not vest any portion of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.
Judge Brett Kavanaugh was one of three people who thought Trump’s tariffs were legal. In the dissenting opinion, he said tariffs may or may not be a wise policy choice, but “as a matter of text, history and precedent, they are clearly legal.”
This is the first of Trump’s second-term agenda items that will be openly addressed before the Supreme Court. The justices will also hear arguments about his efforts to end birthright citizenship.
This story will be updated.
