Ruling that reciprocal tariffs are unlawful deals a major blow to Trump policy… could it become a midterm headwind?

64% of Americans: “Don’t support tariffs”

Public opinion cold even ahead of Supreme Court ruling

Reciprocal tariffs—long touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as one of his signature achievements—were ruled unlawful on the 20th (local time) by the U.S. Supreme Court, making political fallout in the United States all but unavoidable. With some Republican politicians openly welcoming the decision, ripple effects are expected on intra-party dynamics and midterm election strategy.

President Trump has promoted tariffs as a political slogan, arguing they would improve the trade deficit and spur investment in the United States. But with this ruling stripping reciprocal tariffs of their legal basis, critics say it could weaken the cohesion of his support base.

American public sentiment toward Trump’s tariffs overall also appears markedly negative. In a poll of 2,589 U.S. adults conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post (WP) and Ipsos from the 12th to the 17th of this month—just before the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling—64% said they “do not support” President Trump’s tariff policy on imported goods. Only 34% said they “support” it.

The share of negative assessments of Trump’s tariffs was high regardless of income level, gender or age group, and opposition outnumbered support across major racial groups including White, Black, Hispanic and Asian respondents. Even within the ruling Republican Party, voices welcoming the ruling that reciprocal tariffs are unlawful have been emerging in succession.

According to The Hill, a U.S. congressional news outlet, on the 21st (local time), Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky) wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the ruling was a decision that “protected the Republic,” stressing it could prevent attempts by others to abuse the IEEPA.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) also welcomed the ruling in a statement, saying it left “no doubt” about Congress’s constitutional authority over taxes and tariffs.

Pointing to the side effects of the trade war President Trump waged with allies, he added that “the American people already know well that when Washington erects artificial barriers, production and consumption costs at home become more expensive.”

Rep. Don Bacon (Nebraska) likewise backed the Supreme Court decision in a media interview and said lawmakers should also move to put the brakes on President Trump’s decision to impose new global tariffs.

In addition, Rep. Dan Newhouse (Washington) and Rep. Jeff Hurd (Colorado) also welcomed the Supreme Court decision, describing it as a ruling that “reaffirmed the principle of separation of powers.”

But President Trump moved to publicly lash out at them. On Truth Social, Trump said, “Republicans are far too disloyal to themselves,” adding, “Unite and stand together and let’s win.”

Trump also said he was withdrawing his support for Rep. Hurd, who opposed the tariff policy, and would back Hope Shepperlman, Hurd’s Republican primary challenger in the district.

Citing “a lack of support for the unbelievably successful tariff policy imposed on foreign countries and companies” as the reason for the endorsement withdrawal, he criticized Hurd, saying, “Rep. Hurd is one of the few members who have let me and our country down.”

New York = Park Shin-young, correspondent nyusos@hankyung.com