The US Supreme Court ruled on Friday (February 20, 2026) that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he unilaterally imposed extensive tariffs on a global scale. The decision represents a resounding defeat for the White House on an issue that lies at the core of its foreign and economic policy. The law that underpins these tariffs “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs,” the Court’s majority ruled in a 6-3 decision.
As CNN reports, Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, and the Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled that the tariffs exceeded the limits set by law.
The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a huge chunk of President Donald Trump’s far-reaching tariff agenda.
The law that undergirds those import duties “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs,” the majority ruled.
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“The President invokes an extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Roberts wrote on behalf of the majority. “Given the breadth, historical dimension, and constitutional framework of the power invoked, he must identify clear authorization from Congress to exercise it.”
