New York Attorney General Letitia James praised a major court decision that struck down much of President Donald Trump’s tariff program, calling it a win for ordinary Americans.
“A court ruled in our favor and declared that the President cannot impose tariffs whenever, wherever, or however he wants,” James wrote on X.
She added, “This is a victory for hardworking families and businesses in New York and our nation. We will never stop fighting to protect people and their wallets.”
Why It Matters
A federal appeals court decided on Friday that most of Trump’s tariffs were imposed illegally, confirming an earlier ruling by the Court of International Trade.
The ruling doesn’t ban tariffs altogether but found that Trump’s approach—using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to declare an “economic emergency” and set tariff rates without Congress’s approval—broke the law.
This decision could make it harder for Trump to fully change U.S. trade policy.
What To Know
James was one of 12 attorneys general who sued Trump over his tariffs, arguing they were illegal.
In court papers filed in April, Democratic attorneys general from New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont said Trump “lacks statutory authority to impose the tariffs.” They argued the tariffs acted as huge taxes on Americans without Congress’s approval.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai called the lawsuit a “witch hunt against President Trump.”
“Once again, Democrats like Letitia James are prioritizing a witch hunt against President Trump over protecting the safety and wellbeing of their constituents,” Desai told Politico.
“The Trump Administration remains committed to using its full legal authority to confront national emergencies—illegal migration, fentanyl flows, and the growing U.S. trade deficit.”
James has been one of President Trump’s biggest legal opponents. Since 2019, she has investigated the Trump Organization for allegedly inflating asset values to mislead lenders and insurers.
That case went to trial from October 2023 to January 2024, where Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his company liable for fraud. The court ordered them to pay about $364 million and placed restrictions on Trump and his sons’ business activities.
On August 21, 2025, a New York appeals court gave Trump a partial win. The court upheld the fraud ruling but said the penalty was too high.
The legal battle has added to political tension. Trump has called James’s actions a politically motivated “witch hunt” and filed some lawsuits against her, which judges dismissed as frivolous.
At the same time, James has said she is defending the rule of law, promising that “no one is above the law—not even a former president.”
Tensions grew further after federal investigations into James herself. The U.S. Department of Justice is looking into alleged mortgage fraud and possible civil rights issues in her handling of the Trump case, which James and supporters call political retaliation.
More than 20 attorneys general have defended James, saying the federal government is misusing its power against a state official.
What People Are Saying
Jeffrey Schwab, director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center, said the ruling shows Trump doesn’t have unlimited power to set tariffs: “This decision protects American businesses and consumers from the uncertainty and harm caused by these unlawful tariffs.”
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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.
“Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
What Happens Next
The ruling won’t take effect until October 14, as the Trump administration is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.
