Most Americans say the Supreme Court of the United States was right to block much of President Donald Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs, a decision on an issue that has exposed sharp divisions among Republicans and prompted open celebration from Democrats.
A YouGov survey released Friday found that 60 percent of U.S. adults “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the Court’s ruling, compared to 23 percent who disapprove and 17 percent who are unsure. Democrats backed the decision overwhelmingly at 88 percent, while 63 percent of independents also approved. Republicans were more divided: 43 percent disapproved, while 30 percent said they approve.
The ruling came Friday morning in a 6–3 decision against Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners. Trump became the first president to rely on the nearly 50-year-old statute for such broad import taxes. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that IEEPA does not authorize the president’s tariff regime.
The Court declined to address whether previously collected tariffs must be refunded, leaving that question to lower courts. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee who joined the majority, has previously warned that refunds could become “a mess,” a concern echoed in dissent by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.
The Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates the ruling could put as much as $175 billion in tariff revenue at risk, noting that importers typically have 180 days after goods are liquidated to file refund claims with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Reactions among Republican leaders ranged from constitutional praise to outright condemnation of the Court.
The Supreme Court defended the Constitution by rejecting the use of “emergency” powers to impose taxes. Tariffs are taxes and the power to declare them belongs to the Congress. This goes beyond this case. No future administration, including a socialist one, can use “emergency”…
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 20, 2026
The Supreme Court makes plain what should have been obvious: “The power to impose tariffs is “very clearly a branch of the power to tax.” pic.twitter.com/FBjYD29Dfn
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 20, 2026
Today, the Supreme Court decided that Congress, despite giving the president the ability to "regulate imports", didn't actually mean it. This is lawlessness from the Court, plain and simple. And its only effect will be to make it harder for the president to protect American…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 20, 2026
Tariffs can be an important and effective tool to address unfair trade practices and help level the playing field with foreign competitors. Senate Republicans will continue working with the administration and our colleagues in the House to advance our shared goal to strengthen…
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) February 20, 2026
No one can deny that the President’s use of tariffs has brought in billions of dollars and created immense leverage for America’s trade strategy and for securing strong, reciprocal America-first trade agreements with countries that had been taking advantage of American workers…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 20, 2026
Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed authority that has rested with Congress for centuries. The American people already know that tariffs make building and buying here at home more expensive. And Kentuckians understand this painful reality better than most. But the use of IEEPA to…
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) February 20, 2026
The Supreme Court decision striking down the harmful Trump Tariffs is a big victory for the American people.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) February 20, 2026
And another crushing defeat for the wannabe King.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House Friday afternoon, called the decision “disappointing” and criticized Barrett and Justice Neil Gorsuch, both of whom he appointed. “I don’t want to say whether I regret nominating them,” Trump said. “I think their decision was terrible.” He added that he was “proud” of Kavanaugh, saying the justice’s “stock has gone so up.”
Within hours of the ruling, Trump announced he had signed a new executive order imposing a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows temporary tariffs of up to 15 percent for 150 days to address large trade deficits.
The White House’s official X account responded more bluntly, posting: “Keep Calm and Tariff On.”
