Following the Supreme Court of the United States’ 6-3 decision that he had broken federal law by enacting sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law reserved for national emergencies, US President Donald Trump expressed his “great disappointment.”
Speaking at a press conference, Trump expressed his shame at “some members of the court for not having the fortitude to do what is right for our country” and criticized the majority ruling.
He said that foreign nations were praising the ruling and called the Democratic-appointed justices a “disgrace,” saying, “Foreign nations that have been defrauding us for years are thrilled.”
“They are dancing in the streets and they are very happy, but they will not be dancing for long,” Trump declared, adding that his government would take other action in response. “Fools and lapdogs.”
The president said that several justices were “unpatriotic” and hostile to the Constitution, and he accused the court of being swayed by “foreign interests.” He claimed to have won “by millions of votes” in the 2024 election, but that “some justices are frightened” to make decisions that further his goals.
Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas dissented from the decision, and Trump complimented them. He called Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, and Chief Justice John Roberts, who joined the majority, “fools and lapdogs for radical-left Democrats.”
A new 10% worldwide tariff has been announced.
Trump stated that the decision would not substantially limit his trade agenda in spite of the setback. He declared that, in addition to the current charges, he would immediately sign an executive order imposing a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
He asserted that tariffs already in place will continue to be “in full force” and that further legislative action was not necessary.
“The Supreme Court did not rule against tariffs. “They simply overruled a specific use of IEEPA,” Trump claimed, claiming that the president had broad authority to impose import charges under other acts.
He cited the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as further legal avenues that would permit even greater duties. “Very powerful alternatives,” he remarked, adding, “I can charge more today.”
Trump indicated a more aggressive stance going forward and claimed the administration has “extremely formidable alternatives” authorized under current law. He declared, “I am going to go in a different path – possibly the direction that I should have gone the first time… which is much stronger than our original choice.”
Trump used record Dow and S&P 500 levels to support his tariff policies and claim that the US economy had done well under his direction. He pledged to take more steps to safeguard home businesses and claimed that tariffs had been successfully employed to boost the US economy.
The main question in the Supreme Court’s ruling was whether IEEPA gave the president the authority to apply broad-based tariffs. Even if Trump seeks to pursue other aspects of his trade plan, the court’s majority ruling that the statute does not confer such authority represents a substantial legal restraint on one of those aspects.
