Trump Claims Supreme Court Ruling Grants Him Unprecedented Leverage Over Global Trade
President Donald Trump accused the U.S. Supreme Court of granting him expanded authority over foreign nations and trade policy following the court’s 6-3 decision last week that struck down his sweeping trade tariffs.
The ruling, handed down Friday, vacated lower court rulings and held that the president lacks authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs — a significant legal setback for Trump’s trade agenda.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump argued the decision would ultimately enhance his leverage in international trade. He criticized the court’s reasoning and tone, writing: “The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling.”
Trump claimed the decision clarifies alternative tools he believes remain available, adding: “For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely ‘terrible’ things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades, but incomprehensibly, according to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee – BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES, why can’t the United States do so?”
He continued: “You do a license to get a fee! The opinion doesn’t explain that, but I know the answer!”
Turning back to tariffs specifically, Trump insisted the court’s decision leaves room for other duties and enforcement mechanisms. He wrote: “The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used.”
Trump blasted the majority while singling out three justices for praise, stating: “Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people, and for that they should be ashamed of themselves (but not the Great Three!).”
He then pivoted to broader concerns about the court’s future rulings, claiming: “The next thing you know they will rule in favor of China and others, who are making an absolute fortune on Birthright Citizenship, by saying the 14th Amendment was NOT written to take care of the ‘babies of slaves,’ which it was as proven by the EXACT TIMING of its construction, filing, and ratification, which perfectly coincided with the END OF THE CIVIL WAR.”
Trump added: “How much better can you do than that? But this supreme court will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion, one that again will make China, and various other Nations, happy and rich.”
Closing his post, Trump vowed to press forward despite the setback, writing: “Let our supreme court keep making decisions that are so bad and deleterious to the future of our Nation – I have a job to do.”
The Supreme Court’s tariff decision immediately sparked renewed uncertainty across global markets and among U.S. trade partners, with foreign officials demanding clarity on what comes next.
