Trump Attacks Supreme Court After Tariff Ruling

The Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3 ruling in February 2026 striking down sweeping global tariffs proposed by Donald Trump. The Court determined the president had exceeded his authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision was contested even among some justices appointed by Trump during his first term.

Trump responded by characterizing the ruling as a "disgrace" and "ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive." He targeted the judiciary with personal attacks, labeling the three Democratic-appointed justices a "disgrace to our nation" and describing the three Republican-appointed justices who voted against him as "fools and lap dogs" who are "unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution."

Michelle A. Behnke, President of the American Bar Association, condemned the rhetoric, stating that the president's remarks "cross a dangerous line" and threaten the safety of the judiciary and the rule of law. She urged other bar associations to defend the work of the courts against such incendiary language.

Ahead of his State of the Union address in Washington, DC, Trump was cautioned by Fox News hosts, including Brian Kilmeade, to avoid commenting on the justices during the speech. The president's economic policies remained a point of contention, with an AP-NORC poll indicating only 39 percent of respondents approved of his handling of the economy.