Trump warns of 'Great Depression' if appeals court curbs tariff power

Trump warns of ‘Great Depression’ if appeals court curbs tariff power

President Donald Trump said Friday that if an appeals court curbs his tariff authority, America could sink into a “Great Depression.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit hearing is considering a legal challenge to Trump’s ability to impose tariffs. Trump is worried about the court’s eventual decision, although his attorneys plan to appeal to the Supreme Court if the ruling doesn’t go Trump’s way.

“Tariffs are having a huge positive impact on the Stock Market. Almost every day, new records are set,” he wrote Friday.

“If a Radical Left Court ruled against us at this late date, in an attempt to bring down or disturb the largest amount of money, wealth creation and influence the U.S.A. has ever seen, it would be impossible to ever recover, or pay back, these massive sums of money and honor,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “It would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION!”

Trump said the court should have ruled at the beginning of the case.

“If they were going to rule against the wealth, strength, and power of America, they should have done so LONG AGO, at the beginning of the case, where our entire Country, while never having a chance at this kind of GREATNESS again, would not have been put in 1929 style jeopardy,” Trump wrote. “There is no way America could recover from such a judicial tragedy, but I know our Court System better than anyone, there is no one in history that has gone through the trials, tribulations and uncertainties such as I, and absolutely terrible, but also amazingly beautiful, things can happen.”

One court has already ruled that Trump overstepped his authority, but Trump appealed the ruling.

In May, the three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of International Trade unanimously ruled that Congress did not give the president tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The ruling voided Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and struck down other tariffs Trump issued under the IEEPA.

The administration appealed to the Federal Circuit, which ruled that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs could remain in place while the legal challenge continued.

Appellate court judges scrutinized President Donald Trump’s tariff authority during oral arguments at the end of July. Judges asked attorneys on both sides of the case tough questions about the president’s authority to restructure global trade without help from Congress.

Trump has used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to underpin his “Liberation Day” tariffs. On April 2, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners. He later suspended those higher tariffs but used the threat of higher taxes to get foreign nations to agree to new trade deals.

Trump’s full suite “Liberation Day” tariffs went into effect this week, hitting 66 countries, the 27-nation European Union and others.

The appeals court is expected to move quickly on its decision.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Treasury sanctions accused Costa Rican drug traffickers

Treasury sanctions accused Costa Rican drug traffickers

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration announced sanctions against four Costa Rican drug traffickers and two business entities as part of an effort to crackdown on cocaine. “Costa...
S&P keeps U.S. outlook stable, but says federal finances won't improve

S&P keeps U.S. outlook stable, but says federal finances won’t improve

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A top-credit rating agency decided to keep its outlook for U.S. credit stable, but said the federal government's financial position "won't meaningfully improve" in the...
Lawmaker criticizes $500 student board scholarships amid lowered K‑12 standards

Lawmaker criticizes $500 student board scholarships amid lowered K‑12 standards

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois student leaders serving on state higher education boards will now receive $500-per-semester scholarships under a...
Mayor Karen Bass's charity skips working Americans, data suggests

Mayor Karen Bass’s charity skips working Americans, data suggests

By Kenneth SchruppThe Center Square Less than 1% of aid recipients from the official charity of the office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reported receiving the earned income tax...
Illinois news in brief: Work begins on $1.5 billion O'Hare expansion; Police catch man accused of road rage, shooting

Illinois news in brief: Work begins on $1.5 billion O’Hare expansion; Police catch man accused of road rage, shooting

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Work begins on $1.5 billion O'Hare expansion A new round of construction has begun at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Airline...
Putin, Zelenskyy to meet after 'successful' peace talks with Trump

Putin, Zelenskyy to meet after ‘successful’ peace talks with Trump

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Russia and Ukraine appear to be inching closer to peace, as the two leaders are set to meet after rounds of meetings between President Donald...
WATCH: Dems, GOP battle over CA redistricting

WATCH: Dems, GOP battle over CA redistricting

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Emotions ran high Monday as Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento accused each other of sabotaging democracy before the 2026 mid-term congressional elections. The parties' press...
Trump holds high-stakes peace talks with Zelenskyy, European leaders

Trump holds high-stakes peace talks with Zelenskyy, European leaders

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, five European heads of state and NATO leaders at the White House on Monday to hammer out...
Newsom files FOIA request on border patrol's appearance

Newsom files FOIA request on border patrol’s appearance

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office is submitting a Freedom of Information Act request for details regarding the Trump administration’s decision to send U.S. Customs and...
Soaring utility bills, solar federal tax credit cuts dominate Illinois energy debate

Soaring utility bills, solar federal tax credit cuts dominate Illinois energy debate

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Energy prices and clean energy policy took center stage during a senate energy and public utilities...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs crypto regulations

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs crypto regulations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker signs crypto regulations Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed two laws to regulate cryptocurrency. Senate Bill 1797 requires cryptocurrency companies to...
Trucking industry leader: New law may drive business out of Illinois

Trucking industry leader: New law may drive business out of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A trucking industry leader says more businesses may leave Illinois after the signing of Senate Bill 328....
DEA targets drug smuggling corridors in work with Mexico

DEA targets drug smuggling corridors in work with Mexico

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Drug Enforcement Administration officials plan to work with their counterparts in Mexico to target the gatekeepers of the smuggling corridors between the two nations. The...
Planned restart of California oil production faces legal challenges

Planned restart of California oil production faces legal challenges

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Oil and gas production resumed on May 15 that had been out of service for 10 years after an oil spill off the California coast,...
Derailment disrupts train service for Chicago, New York, Washington, Miami

Derailment disrupts train service for Chicago, New York, Washington, Miami

By Alan Wooten | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Passenger train service involving routes to Chicago, Miami and New York is on hold because of a...