Senator King: SCOTUS Decision Deeming Tariffs Unconstitutional Is “Definition of Checks and Balances”

February 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement following the Supreme Court’s ruling against the White House’s sweeping tariffs:
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down the Trump White House’s tariff policies is a civics lesson for both the President and the Congress, and boils down to three core truths of our American experiment in self-government and the people’s rule:
[The Congress shall have Power . . . ] to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
Today’s 6-3 ruling is an example of the Supreme Court reasserting its key role in our government. I can only hope that my colleagues in Congress follow the judiciary’s lead to reassert its own role and responsibilities as the Constitution outlines.”
Senator King has beenoutspoken in his oppositionto President Trump’s tariffs since they were imposed last year. Last June, Senator King joined anamicus briefopposed to an appeals’ court stay on a lower court ruling the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs illegal. In July, he joined an additionalamicus briefin support of the Court of International Trade’s ruling that the IEEPA tariffs are illegal ahead of its hearing in the federal appeals circuit court. In September, Senator King cosponsored a Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRD) to terminate the underlying emergency at the Northern border and eliminate tariffs on Canada, and cosponsored a JRD to terminate the underlying emergency with respect to the Brazilian tariffs. In October, ahead of the hearing before the Supreme Court, Senator King joined anamicus briefin support of plaintiffs arguing that tariffs imposed under IEEPA are illegal. As recently as last month, Senator King referred to the White House’s “illegal tariffs” in a statement expressing concern over the administration’s overreaching ICE operations in Maine, as well as its threats against Greenland.
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