The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, criticized a recent decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade. The court ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority with tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Leavitt described the ruling as “judicial overreach” and a threat to diplomatic and trade negotiations.
The court stated that the Constitution reserves the power to tax and regulate international trade to Congress, not the President, and questioned whether IEEPA grants the President the authority to impose unlimited tariffs worldwide. The ruling overturned the tariffs, with the decision made by judges appointed by former Presidents Reagan, Obama, and Trump.
Leavitt announced that the administration has filed an emergency motion to stay the decision pending an appeal and hopes the Supreme Court will ultimately resolve the matter. She defended the tariffs, stating they address national security threats from trade deficits and emphasized the need for the U.S. to maintain secure supply chains and a robust defense industrial base.
The press secretary also criticized what she viewed as excessive judicial interference with Trump’s trade policies, citing a history of nationwide injunctions against the administration.
