California takes on Trump: Legal battle over tariffs begins
"We’re taking him to court," wrote the Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom, about Donald Trump. Representatives of the wealthiest state in the U.S. believe Trump's tariffs will lead to "immediate and irreparable harm."
Gavin Newsom announced that on Wednesday, California would sue Donald Trump. In this way, the Democrat wants to stop the president from imposing more tariffs.
"The federal lawsuit makes California the first state to challenge the Trump administration over its wide-ranging tariff plans, which have whipped up historic market volatility and frayed America’s relationships with its allies and trading partners," reports CNBC.
"Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs," wrote California governor Gavin Newsom on X and announced that he would sue Trump. Newsom has criticized Trump for weeks regarding the trade war sparked by the White House.
"Irreversible harm"
The governor's office informed NBC News that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "is unlawful and unprecedented."
The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, speaks in a similar tone. "The chaotic implementation of tariffs by the president is not only deeply troubling but also illegal," he assessed. He added that California is the "fifth largest economy in the world" and understands that "global trade policy is not just a game."
President Trump's circle criticized Newsom's announcements. Kush Desai from the White House press office responded, "Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump’s historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our country’s persistent goods trade deficits." Instead of fighting Trump's tariffs, the governor should focus on fighting crime or homelessness.
Newsom wants the presidency
California Governor Gavin Newsom is one of the most prominent politicians in the Democratic Party. When Joe Biden withdrew from the race for re-election last year, some American media emphasized that Newsom could be the best successor.
Bloomberg assessed that Newsom is the obvious choice if the party is looking for a replacement. However, the agency added that the next logical choice was then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who ultimately ran against Trump.
