Trump calls Supreme Court ruling on tariffs “disgrace”

President Donald Trump lashed out at the US Supreme Court after it struck down his sweeping emergency tariffs, calling the ruling a “disgrace,” according to two people familiar with his remarks speaking to CNN.

The decision marks a significant setback for the White House on an issue that has been central to Trump’s economic agenda. The president had privately and publicly vented frustration for months as the court deliberated, criticising the possibility that his tariffs could be invalidated and complaining that the justices were taking too long to issue a decision.

“My favorite word in the whole dictionary is tariff,” Trump joked on February 19, just a day before the ruling. 

The Supreme Court’s decision found that Trump does not have the authority to impose broad tariffs under emergency powers, dealing a blow to a strategy he has portrayed as vital to revitalising American manufacturing and generating revenue for domestic economic programs.

While the ruling curtails the president’s ability to unilaterally levy sweeping import taxes under emergency authorities, it does not eliminate tariffs as a policy tool. Trump is expected to continue pursuing trade measures using other, more limited legal mechanisms available to the executive branch.

Trump has long championed tariffs as a cornerstone of his economic platform, arguing they protect US industries from foreign competition and help fund broader economic initiatives. 

By Sabina Mammadli