Tariffs, the separation of powers, and the role of judges

Published June 1, 2025 2:00pm ET



Federal courts have ruled that President Donald Trump did not have legal authority to impose his worldwide “Liberation Day” tariffs, nor his earlier tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.

Trump and his White House have reacted angrily, calling these court rulings a “coup” and claiming they “usurp the authority of President Trump, to stop him from carrying out the mandate the American people gave him.”

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