Donald Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over tariff ruling and announces new 10 percent global levy from Washington D.C.

Donald Trump went on the offensive Friday, publicly lashing out at the conservative-leaning Supreme Court for striking down key parts of his tariff policy.

In an emergency press conference, the president didn’t hold back, calling the highest court in the United States a “disgrace” and accusing justices of being influenced by foreign powers.

The scathing remarks came after a 6-3 ruling against Trump’s tariffs, with Chief Justice John Roberts authoring the majority opinion.

Trump’s criticism singled out his own appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, for siding with the Court’s majority, describing their decision as “an embarrassment to their families.”

The Controversial Ruling and Its Implications

The Supreme Court’s majority found that Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose the broad tariffs he championed.

The law, originally intended to allow the president to respond to national emergencies, was cited by Trump as the legal foundation for his sweeping trade measures.

Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that if Congress had meant to grant the president this specific power, it would have done so explicitly.

“The president must point to clear congressional authorization,” Roberts wrote, “and he cannot.”

The ruling effectively blocked some of Trump’s signature tariffs, which he had argued were necessary to address trade deficits, national security threats, and economic imbalances with foreign nations.

Trump’s Retaliatory Measures and New Tariffs

Despite the setback, Trump immediately announced a retaliatory move: a new 10 percent global tariff set to bypass the Supreme Court’s restrictions.

He hinted at additional “powerful alternatives” to ensure the U.S. continues to generate revenue from foreign trade.

“We have alternatives—great alternatives,” Trump said.

“Could be more money, we’ll take in more money, and we’ll be a lot stronger for it.”

Estimates suggest that up to $175 billion in tariff revenue could be at stake under Trump’s original plan, according to the Penn-Wharton Budget Model.

These tariffs had previously targeted countries like Mexico, Canada, China, and even India, where Trump threatened 25 percent tariffs over continued Russian oil imports.

A Rare Conservative Split

One of the most striking aspects of the ruling was the rare unity among six justices from both ideological wings, including Gorsuch and Barrett, to rule against the president.

Only Trump-appointed Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined Alito and Thomas in dissent, arguing that the president had, in essence, relied on the wrong statutory authority.

This split illustrates the limits of presidential power, even with a conservative majority in place.

Trump has repeatedly tried to pressure the Court publicly and privately, at times suggesting he might attend oral arguments in person—a move critics argued could have raised separation-of-powers issues.

Political and Financial Ramifications

The decision had immediate market consequences, with Wall Street responding positively to the Supreme Court’s check on executive authority.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to control a Republican majority in both the House and Senate, offering him a pathway—albeit a politically challenging one—to pursue tariff legislation with bipartisan support.

What’s Next?

With the Supreme Court ruling, Trump has several options: he could seek congressional authorization for new tariffs, push forward with his announced 10 percent global tariff, or explore other revenue-generating measures through executive action.

Lower courts may also see disputes over potential tariff refunds, keeping the issue alive for months.

Observers expect trade policy to remain a contentious political battlefield leading into the midterm elections, with economic stakes high both domestically and internationally.

Summary

Donald Trump’s confrontation with the Supreme Court marks a rare public rebuke of the judiciary by a president, highlighting tensions over executive authority and trade policy.

The 6-3 ruling against his tariffs underscored the legal limits of unilateral presidential power, even with a conservative Court majority.

Trump’s immediate announcement of a new global tariff signals that the trade war narrative is far from over, and the next steps may involve both Congress and the lower courts.