1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 21:53 IST
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Trump's emergency tariffs were illegal, stating Congress holds tariff authority.
US Supreme Court (Image: AP) (Pexels/Representative Image)
In a major constitutional setback for US President Donald Trump, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6–3 that his sweeping tariffs imposed under emergency powers were illegal, holding that the authority to levy tariffs rests with Congress.
The nine-judge bench comprised Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Notably, the current court has a strong conservative majority, with six of the nine justices nominated by Republican presidents. Three, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett, were appointed by Trump himself. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito were nominated by former President George W. Bush, while Justice Thomas was nominated by former President George H.W. Bush. The three liberal justices Sotomayor and Kagan (nominated by Barack Obama) and Jackson (nominated by Joe Biden) complete the bench.
Despite this Republican-dominated composition, the ruling against Trump did not split strictly along partisan lines. Chief Justice Roberts joined Justices Gorsuch and Barrett, both Trump appointees, in the majority, along with Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson. The majority opinion held that the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not clearly authorise a president to impose sweeping tariffs, emphasising that tariffs function as taxes and therefore require explicit congressional approval.
The three dissenting justices Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh, argued in favour of a broader interpretation of presidential emergency powers, effectively supporting the legality of Trump’s tariff actions.
The decision underscores that even with a conservative majority, the Supreme Court does not always rule in favour of the president who appointed its members, reinforcing the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers.
Handpicked stories, in your inbox
A newsletter with the best of our journalism
Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
February 20, 2026, 21:53 IST
News world Meet The Nine Supreme Court Justices Who Struck Down Trump Tariffs, Six Were Republican-Nominated
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
