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His own appointees betrayed him.
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Hours after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs, President Trump held a press conference where he openly attacked the justices who voted against him. He called the liberal justices who joined three conservatives a “disgrace to our nation” and also went after his own appointees, Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, for ruling against him.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” he said. The decision was a 6-3 split, with Justices Barrett and Gorsuch joining Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices in blocking the tariffs.
According to Politico, Trump also suggested the justices hated the country and were influenced by foreign powers. When reporters pressed him for evidence to back up his claims, he simply replied, “you’re going to find out.”
Trump responded by announcing new tariffs and defending his authority to impose them
In response to the Supreme Court’s major tariff defeat, Trump quickly announced a new 10 percent global tariff and said he would keep many existing tariffs in place under new laws. The court had rejected his ability to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. When asked if he planned to seek approval from Congress for any new tariffs, he said, “I don’t need to, it’s already been approved.”
Trump was especially critical of Justices Barrett and Gorsuch, both of whom he appointed during his first term. “I think it’s an embarrassment to their families,” he said, referring to the two justices. He later wrote on his social media:
“What happened today with the two United States Supreme Court Justices that I appointed against great opposition, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats. They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have.”
This is not the first time Trump has spoken strongly about the court and tariffs. In November, he wrote on Truth Social, “Evil, American hating Forces are fighting us at the United States Supreme Court. Pray to God that our Nine Justices will show great wisdom, and do the right thing for America!”
Tariffs have been a major part of Trump’s political and economic message. He often calls “tariff” one of his “favorite words” and uses the threat of them in talks with foreign leaders. Last April, he declared “Liberation Day” from international trade deals, imposing sweeping tariffs on countries around the world in what was the largest act of protectionism since the Great Depression.
He has since used these tariff threats to pressure allies on issues like Greenland and oil dealings with Russia, and to push for “most favored nation” drug pricing deals. Trump has also been vocal on other global matters lately, including his comments on the Prince Andrew arrest and its ties to the Epstein case.
The day before the ruling, Trump spoke at a steel factory in Georgia and credited tariffs with recent growth in domestic production. “Without tariffs, this country would be in such trouble right now,” he said. “Without tariffs, this country would be like your company was two years ago.” Despite his harsh words, Trump told reporters that the justices who ruled against him are still invited to his State of the Union address next week, though he added, “barely.”
Published: Feb 21, 2026 03:15 pm