Trump’s power to declare a national emergency is a national emergency.

[Darkwind]

Of course there’s no ‘emergency’ – that’s just another of Trump lies.

At 37T in debt, you bet you ass there is an emergency.

we now see, however, that some business prefer their profits over national security.

I remember a time when the left hated the profits of business. Now, they love them if that means sticking it to Trump.

 

[berg80]

LOSES. Congress gave the president tariff authority, duh.

How Congress delegates its tariff powers to the president | Constitution Center

President Donald Trump is expected to announce wide-sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, in a move with potentially broad consequences. So how does the president have the ability to levy tariffs under the Constitution?

constitutioncenter.org

Read the article. It makes clear the plaintiffs are challenging the legitimacy of the emergency declaration.

 

[MarcATL]

Nope!

 

[Dekster]

Some businesses don't think so.

U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs, say trade deficits are not an emergency​

A group of businesses on Monday sued President Donald Trump, seeking to block new tariffs that he has imposed on foreign imports in recent weeks.

The lawsuit alleges that Trump has illegally usurped Congress’ power to levy tariffs by claiming that trade deficits with other countries constitute an emergency.

“His claimed emergency is a figment of his own imagination: trade deficits, which have persisted for decades without causing economic harm, are not an emergency,” the suit says. “Nor do these trade deficits constitute an ’unusual and extraordinary threat.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/14/us-businesses-sue-to-block-trump-tariffs-say-trade-deficits-are-not-an-emergency.html

These emergency powers trump keeps claiming are really just a way to expand the power of his presidency beyond its legal limits.

Actually the congress gave presidents this power when they decided to not limit what constitutes an "emergency". That said, of course it is no more of an emergency than the stupid climate emergency, but it isn't something I am going to get frothy about. The House GOP will be his bitches so nothing really can be done to stop him

 

[berg80]

Actually the congress gave presidents this power when they decided to not limit what constitutes an "emergency". That said, of course it is no more of an emergency than the stupid climate emergency, but it isn't something I am going to get frothy about. The House GOP will be his bitches so nothing really can be done to stop him

Was the House not controlled by cowed lackeys it would already have voted to take back the power to impose tariffs.........or not.

 

[berg80]

Trump tariffs won’t lead supply chains back to U.S. but companies will go low-tariff globe-hopping: CNBC survey

If China is going to lose some manufacturing as a result of President Trump’s tariffs, the U.S. manufacturing sector won’t be the main beneficiary, according to a new CNBC Supply Chain Survey. The Trump administration says a reshoring boom is coming, but most companies tell CNBC that the costs could as much as double to bring supply chains back and instead a new search for low-tariff regimes around the world will commence.

Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (74%) said cost was the top reason for saying they would not be reshoring production, followed by the challenge of finding skilled labor (21%). The Trump administration has promised tax cuts for companies that bring back manufacturing but the survey found taxes lower in the ranking of costs that impact manufacturing site decision making.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/14/tariffs-wont-bring-manufacturing-back-to-us-supply-chain-survey.html

 

[JGalt]

LOSES. Congress gave the president tariff authority, duh.

How Congress delegates its tariff powers to the president | Constitution Center

President Donald Trump is expected to announce wide-sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, in a move with potentially broad consequences. So how does the president have the ability to levy tariffs under the Constitution?

constitutioncenter.org

Winner winner! That was as far as I need to read in this thread.

 

[Flopper]

LOSES. Congress gave the president tariff authority, duh.

How Congress delegates its tariff powers to the president | Constitution Center

President Donald Trump is expected to announce wide-sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, in a move with potentially broad consequences. So how does the president have the ability to levy tariffs under the Constitution?

constitutioncenter.org

In 1934, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which gave President Franklin Roosevelt the ability to change tariffs rates by 50% and negotiate bilateral trade agreements without additional approval from Congress. Since then, the president has mostly controlled and executed tariffs policies as defined by Congress.

 

[berg80]

In 1934, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which gave President Franklin Roosevelt the ability to change tariffs rates by 50% and negotiate bilateral trade agreements without additional approval from Congress. Since then, the president has mostly controlled and executed tariffs policies as defined by Congress.

And since then it's largely been a non-issue because prior prez's have not been reckless idiots when it comes to tariffs.

 

[Dekster]

Was the House not controlled by cowed lackeys it would already have voted to take back the power to impose tariffs.........or not.

My guess is they would have following a game of chicken. As is, the only good thing that is going to come of all this is that hopefully those freedom caucus people get voted out of office as the frauds they are for cosigning Trump's spending spree

 

[kyzr]

Was the House not controlled by cowed lackeys it would already have voted to take back the power to impose tariffs.........or not.

Over Trump's VETO?? Think again.

 

[Mac1958]

U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs, say trade deficits are not an emergency

Holy shit, of course not. Both Trump and MAGA essentially exist on simplistic hyperbole and scary words.

Should we optimize our trade relationships? Always!

But never at the expense of going so far that we insult and alienate our friendly trading partners. Obviously. Normal, intelligent adults know that it's actually quite possible to BOTH optimize our trade situation AND maintain positive relationships. True story!

But as we know, Trump doesn't DO relationships. He may decide he needs to stab you in the back. So now our former friends view us a predator nation, and the critical domestic and global fixed income markets have become unstable.

He is a menace. A global menace. Now the whole freakin' world knows it.

 

[kyzr]

In 1934, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which gave President Franklin Roosevelt the ability to change tariffs rates by 50% and negotiate bilateral trade agreements without additional approval from Congress. Since then, the president has mostly controlled and executed tariffs policies as defined by Congress.

Well since the tariffs are unfair to the US, and Trump is negotiating "reciprocal/fair" tariff deals, congress should not have a problem. The problem is how Trump imposed them, "quickly", crashing the stock markets. Trump never gets that in government its best to move slowly or incrementally, which is different than in business where "time is money".

 

[kyzr]

Of course not. Both Trump and MAGA essentially exist on simplistic hyperbole and scary words.
Should we optimize our trade relationships? Always!
But never at the expense of going so far that we insult and alienate our friendly trading partners. Obviously. Normal, intelligent adults know that it's actually possible to BOTH optimize our trade situation AND maintain positive relationships.
But as we know, Trump doesn't DO relationships. He may decide he needs to stab you in the back. So now our former friends view us a predator nation.

Trump has 90-days to negotiate new more fair trade deals. Trump is used to using leverage, like with Canada and Mexico. we'll see how it turns out in 90-days. Trump knows that the mid-terms are coming and he better figure things out by then.

 

[citygator]

Trump has 90-days to negotiate new more fair trade deals. Trump is used to using leverage, like with Canada and Mexico. we'll see how it turns out in 90-days. Trump knows that the mid-terms are coming and he better figure things out by then.

Trump said the last two deals he negotiated (Mexico and Canada) in his first term were jokes and he was taken advantage of. Doesn’t give one confidence.

 

[kyzr]

Trump said the last two deals he negotiated (Mexico and Canada) in his first term were jokes and he was taken advantage of. Doesn’t give one confidence.

He's doing better than the guys from 1950-2024

 

[Flopper]

Trump declared a state of emergency at the southern border and within 90 days illegal crossings have slowed to a trickle.

Trump declared a state of economic emergency in order to impose tariffs and now partners are scrambling to re-negotiate.

When you declare a state of emergency and that declaration and related activity yields positive results, then folks applaud.

Do these radical changes also bring pain?

Yes.

But things have been so bad ( invasion, trade deficits ) that draconian action was required and that implies some pain.

Both situations had become intolerable and unsustainable and highly detrimental to the long-term interests of The People.

What had been missing until recently was the perception to recognize the situation and the courage to act upon it.

The pain will pass.

The beneficial outcomes will endure.

Based on outcomes so far... good luck with "selling" the notion that Trump is abusing his power to declare Emergencies.

By draconian action, I assume you mean totally ignoring the constitution and laws. It has proven to be so effective that one has to wonder why we ever even bothered with constitutional government. Authoritarian rule has proven to be so so expedient while constitutional government is so slow and messy.

 

[scruffy]

Some businesses don't think so.

Oh.

The same businesses that shipped all our jobs overseas?

And gave them away to H1B visa holders?

THOSE businesses?

 

[Flopper]

The same reason Biden and Obama did I suppose---Congress gave them the power but never defined what the emergency really means. List of national emergencies in the United States - Wikipedia

There is no need for congress to define and emergency. The one in the dictionary is certainly sufficient.

An emergency is an urgent, sudden, and serious event or an unforeseen change in circumstances​

There is nothing urgent, sudden nor unforeseen about migrants crossing the border or a steadily increasing trade deficit. These problems have been with us for over 40 years. However, Donald Trump enters office and they are now national emergencies.

The 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) grants the U.S. President broad authority to regulate international commerce and financial transactions in response to an unusual and extraordinary threat. These threats are neither unusual nor extraordinary.

This legislation was passed to give the president extraordinary powers to act far rapidly than congress in an emergency.

I'm surprised, the Supreme Court has not come down hard on Trump hard for misusing the act.

 

[Flopper]

By draconian action, I assume you mean totally ignoring the constitution and laws. It has proven to be so effective that one has to wonder why we ever even bothered with constitutional government. Authoritarian rule has proven to be so so expedient while constitutional government is so slow and messy.

The problem with granting a president extraordinary powers to in act authoritarian rule is reclaiming those powers. It is hard to believe that Donald Trump will ever let go of those powers.