Ohio Senator Moreno Defends Trump's Tariffs After Supreme Court Ruling

Constituents question whether Moreno understands the Constitution he swore to uphold.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's sweeping global tariffs were unconstitutional, as Congress, not the president, holds the power to regulate international trade and impose taxes. While most Ohio Republicans accepted the ruling, Senator Bernie Moreno fiercely criticized the decision, saying it "handcuffs our fight against unfair trade" and must be "reversed". Moreno's reaction has drawn criticism from constituents and political commentators who argue he is prioritizing loyalty to Trump over upholding the Constitution.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling was a clear affirmation of the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, with the legislative branch maintaining authority over trade policy. Moreno's dismissal of the court's decision and defense of the president's actions raise concerns that he does not fully understand or respect the constitutional principles he is sworn to uphold as a senator.

The details

The Supreme Court found that President Trump violated the Constitution by unilaterally imposing sweeping global tariffs under a 1977 emergency powers law. The ruling stated that Congress, not the president, holds the power to regulate international trade and impose taxes. Most Ohio Republicans, including Senator John Husted and Representative Mike Turner, accepted the ruling and acknowledged the court's authority, even if they disagreed with the decision. However, Senator Bernie Moreno strongly criticized the ruling, saying it "handcuffs our fight against unfair trade" and must be "reversed", without addressing the constitutional issues at hand.

  • On February 23, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional.

The players

Bernie Moreno

An Ohio senator who fiercely defended President Trump's tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional, drawing criticism from constituents and political commentators for prioritizing loyalty to the president over upholding the Constitution.

John Husted

An Ohio Republican senator who accepted the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs, saying he would respect the rule of law even in disagreement.

Mike Turner

A Republican representative from Dayton, Ohio, who praised the Supreme Court's decision as a reinforcement of the separation of powers and pledged not to support efforts to grant the president broader tariff authority.

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What they’re saying

“Our Senator Bernie Moreno says it's an outrageous ruling. It handcuffs our fight against unfair trade that has devastated American workers for decades. This betrayal must be reversed.”

— Courtney Astolfi (Today In Ohio)

“Look, folks, you may not like this, but there's a reason this power is with the legislative body. Laws get considered, it takes time, and we generally end up in a good place. It's not arbitrarily done. This is why we set up the government this way.”

— Justice Neil Gorsuch (Today In Ohio)

“In the case of Bernie Moreno, I'm seeing more and more people who are furious that he doesn't represent Ohio. He just represents Trump.”

— Chris Quinn (Today In Ohio)

The takeaway

Senator Moreno's dismissal of the Supreme Court's ruling and defense of President Trump's unconstitutional tariffs raise concerns that he does not fully understand or respect the separation of powers and constitutional principles he is sworn to uphold as a senator. This has led to growing criticism from constituents who feel he is prioritizing loyalty to the president over his duty to represent the interests of Ohio.