Pritzker Lauds SCOTUS Ruling On Trump’s Illegal Tariffs

By a 6-3 vote Friday, the justices said the president violated federal law by imposing sweeping tariffs around the world.

Posted Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 10:49 am CT|Updated Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 10:52 am CT

Gov. JB Pritzker is weighing in on Friday’s ruling by the Supreme Court that President Donald Trump’s global tariffs violate federal law. In a majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the judges agreed by a vote of 6-3 that the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs Trump levied on nearly every country in the world are unlawful.

The ruling, the first of Trump’s wider agenda to appear before SCOTUS since the start of his second term last year, is seen as a major blow to the president. In the past, Trump has repeatedly described the case as one of the most important in U.S. history, claiming the country is "screwed" if the tariffs are struck down.

"Donald Trump implemented the largest tax hike in decades on working families — and the Supreme Court just found it illegal," Pritzker said on social media. "Tariffs aren’t paid for by the other country — they’re paid by you. Relief is finally coming, and it’s no thanks to this President."

Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

RELATED: Supreme Court Rules On Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs

Trump, who appointed three conservative justices to SCOTUS during his first term, called Friday’s decision by the nation’s highest court a "disgrace" while hosting governors at a White House breakfast, CNN reported.

Imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the tariffs have drawn scrutiny worldwide including in the United States from business leaders and organizations.

"The Supreme Court’s announcement today regarding tariffs provides much-needed certainty for U.S. businesses and manufacturers, enabling global supply chains to operate without ambiguity," said David French, executive vice president of the government relations for the National Retail Federation, following the decision. "Clear and consistent trade policy is essential for economic growth, creating jobs and opportunities for American families."

French is hoping for a "seamless process" to refund the tariffs to U.S. importers, which he believes will result in an economic boost, allowing "companies to reinvest in their operations, their employees and their customers."