Days after a federal appeals court ruled that most of the tariffs imposed during the Trump administration overstepped its authority, US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning, claiming that without the tariffs, the country would be “completely destroyed” and its military power “instantly obliterated.”

Trump criticised the ruling on Truth Social on Sunday, targeting what he described as a “Radical Left group of judges” behind the 7-4 decision. He also singled out a single Democratic, Obama-appointed judge, expressing gratitude for what he called a courageous vote to “save our Country.”

“Without Tariffs, and all of the TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS we have already taken in, our Country would be completely destroyed, and our military power would be instantly obliterated,” Trump wrote.

“In a 7 to 4 Opinion, a Radical Left group of judges didn’t care, but one Democrat, Obama appointed, actually voted to save our Country. I would like to thank him for his Courage! He loves and respects the USA,” he added.

APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN BROAD TARIFFS

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Friday that Trump overstepped his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing wide-ranging tariffs on nearly every country.

The court, however, left certain targeted tariffs in place, including measures on steel, aluminum, autos, and China-specific levies from Trump’s earlier term, which the Biden administration has maintained.

In an unsigned opinion affirming a lower federal trade court’s May ruling, the appeals court said the IEEPA does not permit the type of broad tariffs enacted earlier this year. The judges called the president’s actions as an “unprecedented overreach of executive authority,” noting that the Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the power to levy taxes and tariffs.

Trump had previously criticised the ruling, insisting that all tariffs would remain in effect. “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social last Friday.

FEDERAL COURT ALLOWS TIME FOR APPEAL

While the court ruled against the broad application of tariffs, it did not immediately invalidate them. The administration has until mid-October to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs of up to 50 per cent on nations with which the US runs trade deficits, alongside a 10 per cent baseline levy on most other countries. Some nations — including the UK, Japan, and the EU — agreed to revised trade terms, while others faced harsher penalties.

Trump justified the sweeping measures by calling longstanding US trade deficits a national emergency. He had also cited the IEEPA to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, linking them to national security threats, including illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

– Ends

With inputs from agencies

Tune In