During oral arguments in November, even Trump-appointed justices seemed skeptical of the government's arguments that the president could impose tariffs without congressional approval. 

In the case of Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, two companies sued in May 2025 after Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement of tariffs.

At issue was whether the president exceeded his executive branch authority by imposing tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law intended to address emergencies only.

The Trump administration has argued the trade imbalance constitutes a national emergency. Trump has consistently argued the United States has gotten a raw deal on trade with other countries that impose tariffs.

Normally, trade policy, including tariffs, is enacted through legislation in Congress and signed by the president.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who authored the majority opinion, wrote that the law Trump used "contains no reference to tariffs or duties."

"The Government points to no statute in which Congress used the word 'regulate' to authorize taxation. And until now no President has read IEEPA to confer such power," Roberts wrote.

"We claim no special competence in matters of economics or foreign affairs. We claim only, as we must, the limited role assigned to us by Article III of the Constitution. Fulfilling that role, we hold that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."

Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh all dissented from the majority opinion.

The case was uncharted waters for the Supreme Court, which had never before ruled on the extent of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Tariffs have long been core to Trump's trade and economic agenda, often clashing with the more libertarian-leaning conservative views on free trade that dominated the Republican Party going back to at least the Ronald Reagan era. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Fred Lucas is chief news correspondent and manager of the Investigative Reporting Project for The Daily Signal. He is the author of "The Myth of Voter Suppression: The Left's Assault on Clean Elections."

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Prayer Alert: Trump OK and SAFE, Rushed Out of White House Correspondents Dinner after Shots Fired [Video]

'Healing Wells of Revival': Supernatural Move of God Hits Waco Church and Community

Trump Restores a Landmark and Saves Millions of Dollars

Deaths and Disappearances of US Scientists Draw National Security Scrutiny

FBI's Patel: SPLC 'Paying the Very Villains of Our Society' Despite Telling Donors They're Fighting Hate [Video]

Netanyahu Reveals Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Treated Successfully

Iran War Update, and Reza Pahlavi's Message

Israel Appoints Its First Christian Ambassador as Envoy to Christian World

Christian Leaders Call for Clemency for IDF Member Who Desecrated Statue of Jesus: 'We Forgive This Soldier'

Bombshell Findings Reveal Possible Proof of Noah's Ark

Patricia Heaton Broke Down in Tears after Finding an 'Everybody Loves Raymond' Moment in the Bible

Texas CAN Enforce State Law Telling Schools to Post the Ten Commandments, Federal Appeals Court Rules

Trump Admin Loosens Regulations on State-licensed Medical Marijuana

Planned Parenthood Expanded Gender Transitions by over 40% in 2025: Report

RESCUE MISSION: Trump Admin Deploys US Plane to Cuba to Rescue 10-Year-Old Utah Child Allegedly Kidnapped by Trans Father for Forced Medical Transition

California's Bid to Unmask ICE Agents Goes Down in Flames

Senate Republicans Pass Budget Resolution to Fund ICE, CBP

Virginia Court Strikes Down Democrat Gerrymander Referendum as Unconstitutional, Judge Blocks Vote Certification and Issues Injunction

President Trump Reads Bible Aloud from the Oval Office: 'Then Will I Hear from Heaven... and Heal Their Land'

4 Kansas School Districts Gender Identity Policies Broke Federal Law: Education Dept.