politics
February 20, 2026
Supreme Court strikes down Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs
The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a major loss on Friday, striking down his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs as unlawfully implemented.
TL;DR
- The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs with a 6-3 ruling.
- The court found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.
- Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the two words 'regulate' and 'importation' in the IEEPA cannot support the president's claimed sweeping power to impose tariffs.
- The ruling was joined by Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson.
- Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh dissented, arguing that IEEPA empowers the president to regulate imports, including tariffs, during national emergencies.
- The tariffs affected were those implemented under the IEEPA, not other tariffs imposed using different laws.
- The cases before the court were *Learning Resources v. Trump* and *Trump v. V.O.S. Selections*.
- The ruling is the first in a series of cases this term concerning presidential powers and policies.
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