Trump’s Coercive Pushback Against the Courts on His Tariffs is the Playbook of a Tinpot Dictator, Not a US President
Disgraceful in pot Dictator! What else can you call a president who knowingly breaks the law and then coerces the court to come out on his side? Donald Trump’s team stormed into the U.S. Court of Appeals earlier this month, basically confessing his “Liberation Day” tariffs were a giant, illegal scam from day one. They knew the law they hid behind, the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), didn’t authorize Trump’s universal 10% import tariffs—didn’t let Trump slap a 10% tax on nearly every import, but he did it anyway, trashing our economy and hiking prices for everyday Americans. Now, with their backs against the wall, his lawyers, John Sauer and Brett Shumate, are whining to judges that killing these tariffs will spark a “1929-style” crash (WSJ, Aug 2025). This is Trump’s disgusting playbook: break the law, wreck everything, then beg for a free pass because his mess is too big to fix. It’s not leadership—it’s a dictator’s tantrum, spitting in America’s face!
On April 2, 2025, Trump cooked up a fake “emergency” over trade deficits, hitting almost all imports with a 10% tariff starting April 5 and planning harsher ones for April 9, only pausing them when markets freaked out. On May 28, a trade court (V.O.S. Selections v. Trump) called his tariffs flat-out illegal, demanding they stop. But on May 29, the appeals court let them drag on while Trump screamed about “radical” judges—despite a bipartisan panel shutting him down. By July 31, he doubled down, tweaking and restarting some tariffs. Small businesses are getting crushed, losing $856,000 a year, says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and shoppers get stuck with higher prices. Judge Jimmie Reyna said it loud and clear during an appellate court hearing on July 31: "IEEPA doesn't even mention the word 'tariffs' anywhere," and Trump’s stomping all over Congress’s power. Trump knew his case was garbage. Now, in August 2025, he’s on Truth Social, shrieking about a “GREAT DEPRESSION” to scare judges into saving him.
This is a full-on assault on our Constitution by the man who vowed to defend and uphold it! If courts let this slide, any president could fake an “emergency,” ignore Congress, and dodge punishment by pointing to their own mess. This is tyranny, plain and simple! The courts must smash this nonsense before it guts our democracy. Trump’s America laughs at the law, and we’re stuck with the bill!
Lest you think that these presidential actions are a one-off, Trump's entire second term so far has involved a systematic challenge to the structural constitutional framework of separation of powers. Let’s remember some other notable, egregious violations of laws and norms:
1. Defying the Supreme Court on TikTok Click here to read more
The Supreme Court determined that TikTok had to be closed down in the U.S. if a U.S. buyer were not in place. Trump has ignored and continues to violate the Supreme Court decision.
2. Weaponizing the IRS against Harvard Click here to read more.
It is illegal for a president to direct the IRS to investigate any party. What Trump did is a clear violation of law.
3. Hijacking the Nippon Steel–U.S. merger. Click here to read more.
Trump inserted himself into the Nippon Steel–U.S. merger and would only allow this normal, legitimate merger to go through if the US Government retained significant control.
4. Ordering Goldman Sachs to fire an economist over Tariff stance Click here to read more.
He told Goldman Sachs to fire an extraordinarily-respected economist because he didn’t like what he had to say.
5. Firing the head of BLS and installing a crony Click here to read more.
Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief, who was well-respected and showed no signs of bias; and installing his own extremely-biased alternative.