President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on the Supreme Court of the United States after the court struck down his sweeping tariff measures in a landmark 6–3 ruling.
Speaking during a press briefing at the White House, Trump accused six justices of being “afraid of doing the right thing” and claimed some were influenced by foreign interests though he offered no evidence to support the allegation.
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” Trump said.
The ruling saw Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, both appointed by Trump, join Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three liberal justices in blocking the tariffs. Trump described the decision as “a disgrace to our nation” and criticised Barrett and Gorsuch in personal terms, calling their stance “an embarrassment.”
Court Rejects Emergency Tariff Authority
The court ruled that Trump overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs on global trading partners. Writing for the majority, Roberts said the Constitution requires clear congressional authorisation before a president can exercise such sweeping economic powers.
“The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Roberts wrote.
“He must identify clear congressional authorisation to exercise it.”
The judgment invalidates tariffs that formed the centrepiece of Trump’s second-term economic and foreign policy strategy.
However, sector-specific tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed under separate statutes remain in effect.
Trump Announces New Global Tariff
In swift response to the ruling, Trump announced a new 10 percent global tariff and pledged to maintain several existing trade measures under alternative legal frameworks.
He insisted the decision ultimately clarified presidential trade authority rather than weakened it.
Asked whether he would seek congressional approval for future tariffs, Trump responded: “I don’t need to, it’s already been approved.”
The blocked tariffs which targeted imports from Canada, China, Mexico and other trading partners had generated billions in revenue while increasing costs for businesses and consumers.
The ruling is expected to trigger refund claims from major companies, including Costco, Toyota group firms and Revlon, that had begun legal preparations ahead of the decision.
U.S. media described the judgment as a significant rebuke of executive overreach. While the court emphasised it was not evaluating the merits of tariffs themselves, it stressed constitutional limits on presidential power.
The decision marks the first major legal setback for Trump’s expansive interpretation of executive authority in his second term and is likely to intensify debate in Washington over the balance of power between Congress and the presidency.
