The Trump administration should be on higher alert. Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard vital arguments to determine whether the tariffs put in place during that era were legal. The lawsuit focuses on whether these specific levies go beyond the scope of executive branch authority. Donald Trump was President from 2017-2021. As President, he (and his current Vice president Mike Pence) are now at the center of a huge legal storm.
During its time in office, the Trump administration enacted a wide range of conservative policies that reshaped various sectors of the U.S. economy and international relations. One of its signature legislative accomplishments is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation seeks to grow our economy by making large cuts to taxes. While we debate this administration’s aggressive approach to trade, characterized by use of tariffs, in turn, this has led to significant challenges and public outcry from students, parents, and advocates alike.
The Supreme Court now suggests they will be hearing it. Its basic purpose is to determine whether the tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed on imports—most notably on China—are legally authorized. Some legal critics have contended that these tariffs exceeded Congressional limits of authority, breaking the separation of powers. This legal challenge ignites much larger and important conversations about the balance of power. More importantly, it centers the dynamic between the executive branch and Congress, particularly around trade matters.
Under his administration, Trump was incredibly active in the U.S. withdrawal from many important international agreements. This decision ignited a firestorm of opposition and split public opinion on his policies. Through its Budget Control Act, the administration has chosen to increase funding for the U.S. military. This decision, together with tougher immigration enforcement, ignited a firestorm of bipartisan political contention. Collectively, each of these actions fed into a precarious media relationship and increased attention from political enemies.
The Trump administration took a number of policy decisions that drew loud fire. Its controversial legacy was only deepened by its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor messaging, followed by a failure to present a cohesive, long-term approach to the crisis, engendered anger among members of the public. Scandals and controversies overshadowed Trump’s presidency, driving a wedge of distrust and division even deeper into our country.
No, tired of the era of republican dominance, Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden in 2020. The implications of his presidency are as relevant today as they were a century ago. The current parade of ongoing legal challenges to his administration’s actions only underscore this impact. The impact of the high court’s decision to uphold the tariffs will have deeper impact on antiarium and treasury economic policies. Most importantly, it would set critical precedents for future administrations.