President Donald Trump expressed extreme disappointment and publicly shamed his own Supreme Court appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, after they joined a 6-3 majority to strike down his global tariffs, a key economic policy.
President Donald Trump's vision of a Supreme Court loyal to him clashed with the court's independence as six justices, including his appointees Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, voted to strike down his signature global tariffs, imposed under emergency powers. Trump reacted with fury, calling the ruling 'deeply disappointing' and expressing shame for certain members, particularly Gorsuch and Barrett, for lacking 'courage' and being an 'embarrassment to their families.' Vice President JD Vance echoed the criticism, labeling it 'lawlessness.' Legal opposition to the tariffs spanned political lines, involving libertarian and pro-business groups. While presidents like Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Obama have criticized court decisions, experts suggest Trump 'crossed a line' with his public, personal attacks on his own appointees, distinguishing his remarks from historical precedents often conveyed privately. The ruling highlights the court's role as a check on presidential authority and sets a tense backdrop for Trump's upcoming State of the Union address, where he will once again be in the same room as the justices.
