Appeals court pauses ruling blocking Trump tariffs, White House responds

(CNN)- A major legal battle over President Donald Trump’s trade policy escalated this week after a federal appeals court paused a lower court ruling that had blocked much of the administration’s sweeping tariffs. Peter Navarro, Counselor to the President and Trump’s top trade adviser, confirmed the development, saying, “Just heard the news — they’ve stayed the order of the court.” He added, “We will go to the appeals court if necessary, up the chain from there.”

The stay comes in response to a decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday, which ruled that President Trump lacked the authority to impose many of the tariffs in the manner he had pursued. The administration immediately appealed the ruling.

By granting the stay, the appeals court has temporarily restored Trump’s ability to impose tariffs under the emergency powers he declared earlier this year. Both sides are now required to submit written arguments as the legal case moves forward. The White House swiftly condemned the lower court’s ruling. In a lengthy social media post, President Trump criticized the decision, while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the judiciary of overstepping its bounds.

“There is an effort by this administration to tackle these rogue judges,” Leavitt said, calling the ruling “judicial overreach.” She added, “The courts should have no role here. There is a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process, but ultimately the Supreme Court must put an end to this.”