Washington, D.C., September 1(HS): In a fiery response to a federal appeals court ruling, former US President Donald Trump vehemently condemned the decision invalidating several tariffs imposed during his administration. Speaking on Truth Social, Trump warned that without these tariffs, the United States would be “completely destroyed,” and its military might “instantly obliterated.” The ruling, delivered in a 7-4 verdict by what Trump termed a “Radical Left group of judges,” struck down the tariffs as an overreach of executive authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Trump singled out one Obama-appointed Democratic judge who dissented from the majority, praising the judge’s courage and patriotism. Despite the court’s verdict, Trump asserted that all tariffs remain in effect for now, condemning the decision as politically biased and affirming his administration’s intention to challenge the ruling, with a possible Supreme Court appeal looming.

The ruling underscores the constitutional principle that tariff imposition is a Congressional prerogative, with the court criticizing Trump’s executive use of emergency powers to levy import duties. Enforcement of the ruling is delayed until October, temporarily preserving the tariffs that have shaped US trade policy and geopolitical positioning in recent years.

This legal setback marks a critical juncture in US economic policy, provoking sharp political rhetoric and uncertainty over the future of trade protections fundamental to Trump’s agenda.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar