Washington D.C. – The White House is calling for Supreme Court intervention after a federal trade court delivered a stunning blow to President Trump’s tariff regime, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday decrying the decision as “judicial overreach” and a threat to presidential authority.
The surprise Wednesday ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade has injected significant uncertainty into global commerce and heightened the urgency of the appeals process. The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal mere minutes after the decision was handed down, signaling its intent to vigorously fight the ruling.
Speaking at a press briefing, Leavitt forcefully criticized the court’s involvement. “The courts should have no role here,” she asserted, adding, “There is a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision making process. America cannot function if President Trump, or any other president for that matter, has their sensitive diplomatic or trade negotiations railroaded by activist judges.”
Leavitt concluded her remarks on the matter by stating, “But ultimately, the Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution.”
The ruling came from a three-judge panel, comprising appointees from the Reagan, Obama, and Trump administrations. Their summary judgment invalidated nearly all of Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The 1977 law, which can only be invoked when the U.S. faces an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security, foreign policy, or the economy, had never before been utilized to implement tariffs.
These IEEPA-based tariffs were a central pillar of the Trump administration’s economic and fiscal strategy, which now faces even greater uncertainty following the court’s decision.
It’s important to note that the ruling specifically targets tariffs enacted under IEEPA and does not affect those imposed under other authorities, such as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 or Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The White House’s swift appeal and Leavitt’s strong rhetoric signal a determined fight to overturn the trade court’s decision, with the administration now pinning its hopes on the Supreme Court to restore what it views as presidential authority in matters of international trade and national security.
