Revolt Against Trump's Tariffs: Half of America Sues Him

President Donald Trump's administration faced a new serious legal challenge. A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Monday, August 4, 2026, against the latest tariffs on goods from 60 U.S. trading partners, including the European Union.

Tariffs of 10 to 12.5 Percent as a 'Pretext'

The new tariffs, ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent, took effect on July 24, 2026, immediately after the previous global tariff of 10 percent expired. Washington justified their imposition as a fight against forced labor, claiming that the affected countries are not doing enough to prevent the export of goods produced under such conditions. However, in a joint lawsuit filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, the plaintiff states dismiss this rationale as a "pretext" and an "unlawful attempt to exercise unlimited tariff powers."

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the new duties apply to as much as 99.4 percent of total U.S. imports. "Despite losing at every turn, Trump is again trying to bring even more chaos into the lives of working families and domestic businesses in Oregon," said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield in a statement.

White House Fires Back: 'We Are Using Lawful Authority'

White House spokesman Kush Desai dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the U.S. is using "its lawful authority to secure the elimination of inappropriate acts, policies, and practices that burden American commerce." The administration invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 when imposing the tariffs, which allows action against trade practices deemed unfair or discriminatory.

The plaintiffs, however, argue that the scope of the new tariffs is unprecedented and that this legal provision has historically been applied in a targeted manner, to specific countries and industries, not to nearly all imports. Among the 25 states filing the lawsuit are New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A String of Legal Defeats and Political Blows

This is not the first time Trump's tariffs have come under judicial scrutiny. The U.S. Supreme Court had already declared earlier tariffs against dozens of trading partners illegal in February 2026. Following that ruling, the administration briefly imposed temporary tariffs in late June 2026, only to replace them with new, permanent duties in July.

The legal challenge comes at a time when Trump is also facing political defeats within his own ranks. Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina blocked the confirmation of his attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche. Tillis sharply criticized the $1.8 billion fund intended for compensation to victims of politically motivated prosecutions, calling it a "slush fund for payouts to thugs."

Trump also received an additional blow from his longtime ally, federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro. She decided to drop the indictment against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging a monument in Washington. In a 20-page court filing, she stated that the damage was not caused by vandalism but by poorly executed work, and that the case was initiated based on inaccurate information from the Department of the Interior.