Trump Rips ‘Unfortunate’ Supreme Court Tariff Decision With Justices Sitting in the Front Row at State of the Union

President Trump criticized the justices of the Supreme Court for their “unfortunate” decision to declare many of his tariffs illegal — all while three of the six jurists who voted against him are sitting in the front row. Chief Justice John Roberts is sitting stone-faced despite Mr. Trump’s attacks. The president was livid after the justice’s decision was handed down last week. Of the nine members of the court, six voted to declare the tariffs illegal, citing Mr. Trump’s overstepping of authority granted to the president by Congress. The court’s opinion states that Mr. Trump did not have the power to levy import taxes without congressional authorization. “Everything was working well,” Mr. Trump said during his State of the Union, criticizing “an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court.” After leveling his criticism of the court, several Republicans in the chamber began clapping. He promised, however, to use other means to put taxes on products imported by American companies. “The legal power that I as president [have] … could be far worse for them,” he said of foreign nations which have been forced to make deals with him due to his tariff threats. “These powerful country-saving … peace-protecting … [tariffs] will remain in place under fully approved … statutes,” he said. “Congressional actions will not be necessary.” He went so far as to claim that tariffs — a regressive consumption tax — would replace the federal income tax. Republicans in Congress have expressed little optimism for such a scenario. Mr. Trump’s new tariff powers are far more limited than they were before the Supreme Court’s ruling. He has announced a global 15 percent import tax on all nations’ goods, though he is using the Trade Act of 1974 to levy such taxes. Under that law, Congress will have to vote within 150 days to either approve or reject Mr. Trump’s new taxes. If the House and Senate cannot pass such a bill, then the tariffs will lapse. Senate Democrats — who have the power to block Mr. Trump’s new tariffs because of the chamber’s 60-vote threshold for ending debate — have already pledged to kill any legislation to approve the tariffs. “Following his defeat at the hands of the Supreme Court, Donald Trump is doubling down on his reign of economic chaos. Donald Trump’s 15 percent global tariffs will continue to raise prices and make life unaffordable for millions of Americans,” Senator Chuck Schumer said in a statement Monday, promising to block any tariff bill. “Senate Democrats will continue to fight back against Trump’s tariff tax, and will block any attempt to extend these harmful tariffs when they expire this summer. Democrats will not go along with furthering Trump’s economic carnage,” he added.

Trump Rips ‘Unfortunate’ Supreme Court Tariff Decision With Justices Sitting in the Front Row at State of the Union

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