FedEx Sues for Refund After Court Deems Trump Tariffs Illegal
Did the Supreme Court correctly check presidential overreach or enable corporate raids on the Treasury?
Above: A FedEx delivery truck in San Francisco, California, Sept. 11, 2025. Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
As the Supreme Court correctly ruled, Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing tariffs without clear congressional authorization under IEEPA, as only Congress has the power to levy duties and taxes. His sweeping tariffs were, therefore, undoubtedly illegal, meaning that FedEx has every right to seek compensation for the damages these policies caused.
Pro-government narrative
FedEx's lawsuit demanding billions in taxpayer refunds exposes the disastrous consequences of a pernicious form of judicial overreach that restricts the president's legitimate powers. The Supreme Court created this mess by invalidating tariffs without addressing refund procedures, opening the floodgates for corporations to raid the Treasury and reclaim money already paid.
