The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 that President Trump exceeded his constitutional authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), with the court declaring that "the core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution."
Liberal outlets emphasized this as a victory for constitutional separation of powers and rule of law over executive overreach
Heavy emphasis on the unprecedented nature of using IEEPA for broad tariffs and constitutional tax authority
Detailed coverage of effects on small businesses, consumers, and global trade relationships
Framed the ruling as a necessary check on unlimited presidential power in trade policy
Expressed concern about the conservative-majority Supreme Court potentially overturning the ruling
Emphasized global implications and international law considerations
This analysis is based on coverage from the following left-leaning and liberal media outlets:
"The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution. Tariffs are a core Congressional power."
Liberal outlets consistently featured plaintiff attorney Neal Katyal's characterization of the ruling as "a powerful reaffirmation of our nation's core constitutional commitments" and "a win for our Constitution and founders' vision of what America is."