Trump calls US Supreme Court’s tariff ruling ‘a disgrace,’ says ‘backup plan’ ready: Report
Speaking at a working breakfast with governors at the White House, Trump reacted angrily to the decision and said alternative options were already being considered. He told those gathered that he had a backup plan in mind, according to the report.
The CNN report also said Trump administration officials were preparing for a possible loss at the U.S. Supreme Court and assured the president that if the justices struck down the tariffs, there might be other ways to implement them.
Tariffs, tensions, ceasefires: From ‘Emancipation Day’ shock to courtroom demolition – The full Trump trade war timeline
Tariff disruption: Trump suffered a big blow
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against sweeping global tariffs Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ruling that Trump overstepped his authority by invoking a national emergency law to justify broad import duties.
The ruling marks a major judicial response to one of the most aggressive assertions of executive authority in Trump’s second term and carries broad implications for U.S. trade policy and the global economy.
The tariffs were challenged in three separate lawsuits by five small importers and 12 Democratic-leaning states (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont) after lower courts concluded that Trump had exceeded the powers delegated by Congress. In a related case, a federal judge sided with family-owned toy company Learning Resources.
Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to impose taxes and tariffs. While previous presidents used the 1977 law primarily to sanction foreign enemies or freeze assets, Trump was the first to use it to impose broad-based tariffs. The law does not explicitly reference tariffs, although the administration argues that the law allows the president to “regulate” imports during a declared emergency.Also read: US Supreme Court rules against global tariffs imposed by Trump under emergency law
From ‘Liberation Day’ to ‘mutual’: Trump’s tariff wrath
Trump had relied heavily on tariffs as a central economic and foreign policy tool, launching a wide-ranging trade offensive after returning to office. On April 2, 2025, which he called “Emancipation Day,” he declared long-running trade deficits a national emergency, announcing sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. In February and March 2025, he similarly called for IEEPA to impose duties on China, Canada, and Mexico, citing fentanyl and illicit drug trafficking.
The measures have rattled financial markets, strained ties with allies and triggered legal opposition across ideological lines, including from pro-business and libertarian groups. Economists at the Congressional Budget Office estimate that nearly $300 billion in revenue could be generated annually over the next decade if all existing tariffs were maintained, and cumulative economic impacts could reach trillions of dollars. Treasury data showed net customs duty revenues reached a record $195 billion in fiscal 2025.
Although the Supreme Court’s decision invalidates the tariffs imposed under IEEPA, it does not prevent the administration from turning to other trade legislation. Officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have said they will explore alternative legal authorities, but they may offer less speed and flexibility than the emergency powers legislation Trump has relied on.
Trump has previously described any negative decision as a “terrible blow” and has consistently argued that tariffs are necessary for the economic strength of the United States.
