These 6 US Judges Struck Down Trump's Tariffs. Two Were Appointed By The US President Himself

Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 10:59 IST

These six justices agreed that Trump overstepped his authority and that only Congress has the power to impose wide-ranging tariffs unless a statute explicitly states so

The US Supreme Court on Friday said that Donald Trump had overstepped his powers in imposing a broad range of tariffs that disrupted international trade, striking down a crucial mechanism that the US President has used to impose his economic will. The highly conservative US Supreme Court ruled six-three in the case, holding that the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."

The court observed that “had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs" through IEEPA, “it would have done so expressly, as it consistently has in other tariff statutes."

The Judges Who Struck Down The Tariffs

These six justices agreed that Trump overstepped his authority and that only Congress has the power to impose wide-ranging tariffs unless a statute explicitly states so:

Chief Justice John Roberts: Wrote the majority opinion, stressing that the Constitution reserves tariff and tax powers to Congress, not the President.

Justice Neil Gorsuch: A conservative justice appointed by Trump who voted with the majority to narrowly construe the statute.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett: Another Trump appointee who voted with the majority, stressing the limits of presidential trade power.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor: A liberal justice who agreed that the emergency statute fails to grant wide-ranging tariff powers.

Justice Elena Kagan: Voted with the majority, stressing the importance of statutory interpretation and constitutional boundaries.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Also voted with the majority, agreeing that the emergency statute cannot be used to justify wide-ranging tariffs.

The justices held that the Constitution grants tariff powers to Congress and that since the 1977 statute Trump used (IEEPA) did not specifically grant tariff powers, the tariffs were unconstitutional.

The Dissenting Judges

Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Authored the main dissent, cautioning against the effects of striking down the tariffs, such as refunds to importers.

Justice Clarence Thomas: Focused on Congress’s ability to delegate trade authority and the statute’s potential to support presidential tariffs.

Justice Samuel Alito: Joined Thomas and Kavanaugh’s opinions, claiming the court’s interpretation of the statute was incorrect and that it overstepped the executive branch’s powers.

Why The Split Matters

According to Mint, the majority’s reasoning hinged on a constitutional principle that tariffs are a form of taxation and, under Article I of the US Constitution, only Congress may levy taxes unless it clearly delegates that power.

The decision also reflects the court applying the “major questions doctrine", a legal principle that says courts should not assume Congress intended to grant broad authority for significant economic actions unless it said so explicitly.

The ruling marks a major constitutional check on executive authority and is one of the most significant defeats of Trump’s trade policy. Trump has since sharply criticised the decision, even launching personal attacks on some of the justices who sided with the majority, and vowed to pursue alternative legal paths to impose tariffs.

“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country," Trump told reporters at a White House press conference. “They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution," he said, deriding them at one point as “fools and lap dogs".

Asked if he regretted nominating justices Barrett and Gorsuch, who both voted against him, to the top court, Trump said he did not “want to say whether or not I regret". “I think their decision was terrible," he said. “I think it’s an embarrassment to their families if you want to know the truth, the two of them."

The President also alleged there was foreign influence behind the ruling. “It’s my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests," he said. “I think that foreign interests are represented by people that I believe have undue influence. They have a lot of influence over the Supreme Court, whether it’s through fear or respect or friendships, I don’t know," he said.

News world These 6 US Judges Struck Down Trump's Tariffs. Two Were Appointed By The US President Himself

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