Newsom should not be so smug about tariff case

Ca Post Editorial Board

New York Post

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22.02.2026

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Newsom should not be so smug about tariff case

California does not have the luxury of being smug about President Donald Trump’s setback at the Supreme Court over tariffs.

Gov. Gavin Newsom took to social media on Friday to celebrate the Court’s 6-3 decision in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, before the president slapped a new 10% fee on the world, which was raised to 15% Saturday.

“Issue an immediate refund to all Americans for your illegal tax. Now,” Newsom said.

Newsom should take that advice himself, and repeal the taxes that his administration has foisted onto Californians.

Right now, his administration is imposing a tax on California business to pay back the $20 billion loan he took out from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits.

Newsom’s government is a deadbeat on that loan — and the taxes that have resulted dwarf the economic impact of tariffs for many small businesses in California.

Moreover, gas prices in California remain far higher than they have been for the rest of the nation. Instead of lowering gas taxes, or relaxing cap-and-trade policies and other regulations, Newsom has repeatedly tried to blame “price gouging.”

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The list goes on. And the result of high-tax, high-spending policies is the nation’s highest unemployment rate.

Newsom has attacked Trump for his tariff policies — even though Trump’s purpose was clearly aimed at helping American industries compete against unfair trade practices abroad.

There were new legal and constitutional issues to confront in the case — and great legal minds disagreed.

Three conservative justices had joined the three liberals to rule that the president did not have the authority to impose tariffs under his emergency powers.

Unlike the liberals, who typically march in lockstep, the conservative jurists often show independence of thought — as they did in this case.

Even so, it was hardly a slam-dunk of a case — not like the 9-0 decision that hit President Barack Obama when he decided he had the unilateral power to declare the Senate in recess so he could appoint his cronies to important posts without opposition.

And as Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted in his dissent, President Trump still has authority to impose tariffs on nations that take advantage of us — just not under the emergency powers he invoked.

Whatever your view on tariffs, the fact is that American industry, especially manufacturing, has taken a beating, especially from Chinese competition.

And Newsom has rolled out the red carpet for China.

Instead of trying to score political points on X, Newsom should devote some attention to reviving California’s economy.

Start by reducing the tax burden.

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Newsom should not be so smug about tariff case

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