Trump Asks SCOTUS To Take ‘Swift’ Action To Save His Tariffs

President Donald Trump is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately step in and protect his signature “Liberation Day” tariffs after a federal appeals court ruled against his authority to impose them.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration formally requested the high court to take up the case by November—a sharp acceleration of the typical review process—in order to shield the tariffs from being overturned before ongoing trade negotiations are complete.

White House: Lower Court Decision Threatens National Security

In its emergency filing, the Trump administration warned that the 7-4 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit “gravely undermines the President’s ability to conduct real-world diplomacy” and jeopardizes America’s economic and national security.

“Few cases have so clearly called out for this Court’s swift resolution,” the administration said. “That decision casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that the President has been pursuing through tariffs over the past five months, jeopardizing both already-negotiated framework deals and ongoing negotiations.”

Trump declared a national economic emergency in April and used his executive powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries he says are exploiting the United States.

Court: Tariff Power Belongs To Congress

But the Federal Circuit rejected Trump’s interpretation of IEEPA, stating that the 1977 law does not give the president unilateral authority to impose what amounts to taxation.

“Absent a valid delegation by Congress, the President has no authority to impose taxes,” the court ruled. “The core Congressional power to impose tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution.”

The appeals court delayed enforcement of its decision until October 14, giving the Trump administration a brief window to secure intervention from the Supreme Court.

Trump Warns Of “Total Disaster” If Ruling Stands

Trump blasted what he called a “Highly Partisan Appeals Court” and said the ruling, if allowed to stand, would be catastrophic.

“If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America,” Trump said in a statement. “It would be a total disaster for the Country.”

The president’s sweeping tariff program—announced on “Liberation Day”—was a centerpiece of his second-term trade agenda, targeting foreign adversaries and allies alike to secure what he called “fair and reciprocal” trade terms for American workers.

Legal Showdown Ahead

The legal battle pits the executive branch’s national security claims against the Constitution’s allocation of tax and tariff powers to Congress. The Liberty Justice Center, which brought the suit against the Trump tariffs, said it remains confident the courts will ultimately side with the Constitution.

“Both federal courts that considered the issue agreed that IEEPA does not give the President unchecked tariff authority,” said attorney Jeffrey Schwab.

A federal trade court already ruled in May that Trump overstepped with his tariff orders.

If the Supreme Court declines to take up the case or rules against the administration, Trump’s high-stakes tariffs—central to his ongoing trade battles with China, the EU, and others—could unravel, creating massive uncertainty across global markets and undermining the president’s diplomatic leverage.