New York Attorney General Letitia James hailed a major court ruling striking down much of Donald Trump‘s tariff program, calling it a victory for ordinary Americans.
“A court ruled in our favor and declared that the President cannot impose tariffs whenever, wherever, or however he wants,” James wrote on X.
She added: “This is a victory for hardworking families and businesses in New York and our nation.
“We will never stop fighting to protect people and their wallets.”
Why It Matters
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that most of Trump’s tariffs were imposed unlawfully, upholding an earlier decision by the Court of International Trade.
The ruling does not outlaw tariffs themselves, but found that Trump’s method—using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to declare an “economic emergency” and unilaterally setting tariff rates without congressional approval—violated the law.
The decision complicates Trump’s ambition to fully upend decades of U.S. trade policy.
Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/AP
What To Know
James was one of the 12 prosecutors who sued Trump over his tariff program, claiming it was imposed illegally.
In court papers filed in April, the Democratic attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont alleged Trump “lacks statutory authority to impose the tariffs,” which they argue are effectively massive taxes on Americans that were not approved by Congress.
At the time, White House spokesperson Kush Desai described the lawsuit as a “witch hunt against President Trump.”
“Once again, Democrats like Letitia James are prioritizing a witch hunt against President Trump over protecting the safety and wellbeing of their constituents,” Desai told Politico.
“The Trump Administration remains committed to using its full legal authority to confront the distinct national emergencies our country is currently facing—both the scourge of illegal migration and fentanyl flows across our border and the exploding annual U.S. goods trade deficit.”
James has been one of President Trump’s most persistent legal adversaries. Since 2019, James has pursued a civil fraud investigation into the Trump Organization, alleging the company inflated asset values by billions of dollars to mislead lenders and insurers.
That case culminated in a trial from October 2023 to January 2024, where Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his company liable for fraud. The court ordered the disgorgement of about $364 million and imposed business restrictions on Trump and his sons.
On August 21, 2025, however, a New York appeals court delivered Trump a partial victory. While the panel upheld the fraud finding, it struck down the enormous penalty, calling it excessive.
The legal fight has fueled an escalating political war. Trump has branded James’s prosecution a politically motivated “witch hunt” and even filed lawsuits against her, some of which judges dismissed as frivolous.
At the same time, James has portrayed herself as standing up for the rule of law, vowing that “no one is above the law—not even a former president.”
Tensions have only deepened with new federal investigations into James herself. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened probes into alleged mortgage fraud and possible civil rights violations in her handling of the Trump case, a move James and her allies see as political retaliation orchestrated by Trump’s allies.
More than 20 attorneys general have publicly defended James, accusing the administration of weaponizing federal power against a state official.
What People Are Saying
Jeffrey Schwab, director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center, said the ruling shows Trump doesn’t have unlimited power to impose tariffs on his own: “This decision protects American businesses and consumers from the uncertainty and harm caused by these unlawful tariffs.”
Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “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.
“Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
What Happens Next
The ruling will not take effect until October 14 as the Trump administration is widely expected to appeal the case to the highest court.
