The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday sent an unexpected signal by questioning President Donald Trump's global tariffs, a centerpiece of his economic policy. For years, the high court had backed many of Trump's initiatives, but now seems ready to set limits. During a hearing of over two and a half hours, judges across the ideological spectrum questioned whether the president had overstepped his authority by imposing levies on thousands of products without explicit congressional approval. Neil Gorsuch, considered a key vote, expressed concern over the breadth of power Trump seeks to claim: "What would prevent another president from imposing a 50% tariff on gasoline-powered cars to combat climate change?" he asked. The president justified the measures as a way to combat the trade deficit and curb the influx of fentanyl from China, Mexico, and Canada, but the justices made it clear that the law never mentions tariffs as a presidential power. Chief Justice John Roberts was one of the most direct in warning that tariffs are essentially "taxes on Americans" and that this power "has always been fundamentally of Congress." Justice Amy Coney Barrett also was critical, asking the government to identify any legal precedent that supports such a broad delegation of authority. The court's ruling, which could come by the end of the year, could force the government to return more than $100 billion in tariffs already collected. The justices' skepticism marks a shift in tone in Washington. This judicial turn comes just one day after the victory of young Muslim social democrat Zohran Mamdani in the New York elections. The questions focused on Trump's use of a 1977 emergency law, the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), to impose tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on most U.S. imports. From the White House, the former president tried to appear optimistic, though the political context is challenging for him: the New York results solidify a progressive shift in urban areas and send a signal of wear and tear on a leadership that is beginning to lose control over the country's direction.
