Several Republicans slammed the Supreme Court’s decision Friday that President Donald Trump does not have the power to enforce his tariffs on other countries, while a few broke ranks to voice their agreement with the high court’s ruling.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called the 6 to 3 ruling “outrageous” and said on X that it “handcuffs our fight against unfair trade that has devastated American workers for decades.” He urged Republicans to “get to work immediately on a reconciliation bill to codify the tariffs.”
“The Supreme Court just undercut the President’s ability to defend American workers,” Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga, said on social media. “I’m outraged by this decision; it’s clearly judicial overreach.”
But some in the GOP bucked Trump’s grip on Congress to voice their support for the decision.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called it “a common-sense and straightforward ruling,” noting that the Constitution “gives tariff authority to Congress.”
“I feel vindicated as I’ve been saying this for the last 12 months,” he said. “In the future, Congress should defend its own authorities and not rely on the Supreme Court.”
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said the ruling “makes plain what should have been obvious,” pointing to Congress’s constitutional control over taxation, and “will also prevent a future President such as [Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] from using emergency powers to enact socialism.”
The White House said this was not the end of the road.
Trump was notified of the ruling while meeting with U.S governors in the State Dining Room on Friday morning. He told the attendees, “It’s disgraceful what the courts have done,” according to a White House official who was in the room. The remarks were not captured on camera.
One White House official said they are not surprised by the decision and that oral arguments seemed to be leading to this outcome. The White House “will find some other way to do it,” the official said.
The decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts marked a major defeat for the president, who has only occasionally been checked by the Supreme Court. More often than not, the justices have empowered his agenda, including by granting him broad legal immunity.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented.
Democrats, meanwhile, celebrated the ruling as a rare check on Trump’s vast power.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the decision “a victory for the wallets of every American consumer.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said it was “another crushing defeat for the wannabe King.” “The Supreme Court got this one right,” Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said. Some Democrats went so far as to suggest the administration should pay refunds to Americans. A Yale Budget Lab analysis estimated that tariffs will cost the average U.S. household $1,700 a year. “There is no legal mechanism for consumers and many small businesses to recoup the money they have already paid,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement. “Any refunds from the federal government should end up in the pockets of the millions of Americans and small businesses that were illegally cheated out of their hard-earned money by Donald Trump.” Addressing the president, Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., said, “Every dollar your administration unlawfully took needs to be immediately refunded — with interest.” At a speech in Georgia on Thursday, Trump lamented the fact that the Supreme Court would determine whether he could impose the tariffs. “I have to wait for this decision. I’ve been waiting forever, forever, and the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president,” Trump claimed. “I have the right to put tariffs on for national security purposes.” Jake Traylor and Fallon Gallagher contributed reporting. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky. Recommended
