A top government advisor has claimed that blocking President Donald Trump’s tariffs might be very dangerous for the United States.
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said Sunday that it would be “the end of the United States” if President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs are ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court.
In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his tariffs.
The court held that tariffs are a power reserved for Congress and that the president cannot use IEEPA to unilaterally impose sweeping import duties. This ruling permanently blocked enforcement of the tariffs, deeming them unconstitutional, although the court’s decision was temporarily stayed, allowing the tariffs to remain in effect while appeals continued.
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The administration is reportedly putting maximum pressure on the high court — and the court of public opinion — in an attempt to frame the future of Trump’s trade regime in existential terms.
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the lower court’s ruling in a 7–4 decision, reinforcing the major questions doctrine, which requires clear congressional authorization for significant economic policies such as tariffs. Despite affirming the tariffs’ illegality, the appeals court stayed its ruling until mid-October 2025, meaning the tariffs remain active for now. This stay gives the Trump administration time to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a landmark legal battle over the limits of executive power in trade policy.
“The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution,” the court said. “Tariffs are a core Congressional power.”
“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.”
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Trump quickly warned the ruling could “literally destroy the United States” and suggested a Supreme Court appeal was coming.
The case now heads to the U.S. Supreme Court, where its ruling will have profound implications for the separation of powers and trade policy. The Trump administration argues the tariffs are essential to national security and economic stability, warning that striking them down could cause severe harm. Critics counter that allowing the president to impose tariffs without congressional approval undermines constitutional authority and risks unchecked executive power. Should the Supreme Court uphold the lower courts, the government could be liable to refund billions in tariffs collected, fundamentally reshaping U.S. trade policy and presidential powers.
“This was weaponized partisan injustice at its worst. Politicians in black robes,” Navarro said on Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures” of the court’s 7-4 decision.
“If we lose the case, President Trump is right — it will be the end of the United States,” he said.