In my latest editorial for CGTN, I note that the battle to determine the legality of President Trump’s tariffs is not over yet.
An excerpt:
The old saying that 'perception is reality' is an important and essential concept to remember. Fair or not, the perception that millions of Americans have at the moment is that the nation's highest Court will approve whatever the president wants to do. Keep in mind; the Supreme Court ruled last year that any action carried out by the President of the United States can be illegal when it falls within the bounds of his official decision-making authority. Without a doubt, government lawyers will remind the justices of that when they argue the merits of tariffs.
In addition, because Trump appointed three of the nine members and because the Court leans conservative, the image that many Americans have is that there is no independence in that body. Spin that forward, and should the justices rule that the tariffs are legal, the sense that the Court is in the president's back pocket will be reinforced. And should the Court affirm that the tariffs are illegal, Trump could respond by mentioning that 2024 ruling referenced above and refuse to follow the Court's decision.