California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Donald Trump on Friday after an appeals court overturned his major plan on global tariffs.
Why It Matters
The decision challenges a key part of President Trump’s trade strategy and could mean potential refunds if the tariffs are eventually canceled.
The ruling also sets the stage for a legal battle that may reach the Supreme Court.
What To Know
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by declaring national emergencies and imposing wide-ranging import taxes on most trading partners, the Associated Press reports.
The legal challenge focused on two actions: reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2—which included up to 50 percent on some goods and a 10 percent baseline on most imports—and earlier tariffs from February 1 targeting certain imports from Canada, China, and Mexico tied to drug and migration concerns.
Newsom’s press office commented on X on Friday: “If it’s a day ending in y, it’s a day Trump is found violating the law!”
The criticism comes after weeks of public disagreements between Newsom and Trump, including debates over Republicans’ redistricting plans and the use of national guard troops in U.S. cities.
On his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump responded to the ruling, vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court. He said:
“ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else.”
What People Are Saying
- Republicans Against Trump on X: “Grandpa is mad”
- Retired U.S. Air Force General Robert Spalding on X: “Thank god”
- William and Mary Law School Professor Jonathan Adler on X: “Whoa”
- Justin Wolfers, economics professor at the University of Michigan, on X: “BOOM. The federal appeals court rules Trump’s tariffs illegal, because they are. There’s no national emergency, and so the power to tariff a country rests with Congress. Trump admin has lost at every stage of the process, but stay tuned for the Supremes to chime in.”
Wolfers added: “This won’t end all tariffs. This ruling applies to tariffs applied to entire countries (which is most of the tariff agenda). The industry-specific tariffs use a different legal authority and will remain. The White House has other (more limited) tariff powers it’ll dust off.”
What Happens Next
The appeals court did not immediately block the tariffs, giving the Trump Administration until October 14 to appeal the decision.
