Trump Scores Temporary Win as Court Pauses Ruling Against Tariffs Amid Legal Chaos

In a dramatic legal twist, former U.S. President Donald Trump secured a temporary reprieve on his controversial tariff policies, as a federal appeals court paused lower court rulings that had deemed them unlawful. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an administrative stay on Thursday, allowing Trump’s sweeping tariffs to remain in place — at least for now — while a broader appeal is reviewed.

This development follows a recent ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade, where a three-judge panel — appointed by Presidents Reagan, Obama, and Trump — unanimously found that Trump overstepped his authority under the decades-old International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The panel concluded that the act did not grant the president “unbounded tariff authority.”

Trump, never one to hold back, took to Truth Social to blast the lower court’s decision, questioning whether personal bias played a role. “Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP?’” he wrote, despite the fact that one of the judges involved was his own appointee, Judge Timothy Reif.

Trump’s trade policy, which frequently deployed tariffs as leverage in negotiations with China, the EU, and other major economies, has long been a lightning rod for legal and political scrutiny. His administration used IEEPA to justify tariffs, arguing it was a national security matter — a claim many legal experts and judges have disputed.

While Thursday’s stay is procedural, it reflects the high stakes involved. The next critical date is June 9, when both parties will submit arguments to determine whether the stay should continue throughout the appeal process. Jeffrey Schwab, an attorney for the plaintiffs at the Liberty Justice Center, noted, “We are confident the Federal Circuit will ultimately deny the government’s motion.”

Still, Trump loyalists were quick to hail the court’s temporary pause as a win. Kevin Hassett, former Director of the National Economic Council, described it as a “big victory” on Fox News. Meanwhile, former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, known for his aggressive stance on tariffs, claimed the administration would “find another way” to impose trade barriers, even if they ultimately lose this case.

Adding fuel to the fire, a separate federal court ruling on Thursday further complicated the landscape. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled that Trump lacked the authority to impose certain tariffs under the same emergency powers law, particularly in a case involving small educational toy makers. The judge warned that granting such sweeping powers to the president would undermine the constitutional balance and eliminate congressional oversight on economic decisions.

“The president cannot act unlawfully and then use the effects of having that action declared unlawful as a putative shield from judicial review,” Judge Contreras wrote in a sharp rebuke of executive overreach.

Despite this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s tactics, stating that halting the tariffs would “cause significant and irreparable harm to U.S. foreign policy and national security.” He pointed to ongoing sensitive negotiations and potential manufacturing setbacks that could weaken the country’s defense posture.

This legal saga comes amid broader political maneuvering. The White House is pressing forward with its “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a legislative package that includes tax cuts and expanded immigration enforcement — an agenda closely aligned with Trump’s vision. However, critics like Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warn it could gut vital social programs.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to pressure the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, despite Chairman Jerome Powell reaffirming the bank’s independence in a meeting with the former president.

As these legal and political battles unfold, the stakes are monumental — not just for Trump’s legacy but for the limits of presidential power in economic policymaking. The courts have yet to deliver a final verdict, but one thing is clear: the fight over Trump’s tariffs is far from over.