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By Kate Plummer and Shane Croucher
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President Donald Trump claimed that the Supreme Court's ruling striking down his imposition of tariffs under emergency laws has actually extended his powers.
"The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling," Trump said in a Monday morning post on Truth Social.
"For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely “terrible” things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades," he added."
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Trump appeared to be referring to federal trade or sanctions licenses, which govern whether certain foreign transactions are allowed. Newsweek reached out to the White House by email to comment on this story.
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The Context
Trump's social media post comes after, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court voted Friday to strike down the sweeping tariffs imposed by the president under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on "Liberation Day" in 2025.
The court had grappled over whether Trump had the authority to impose the tariffs under the IEEPA, a 1977 law that grants commanders-in-chief special powers in emergencies, but ultimately decided tariffs must be approved by Congress.
What To Know
“The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it,” the court ruled.
The ruling continued: “IEEPA’s grant of authority to ‘regulate . . . importation’ falls short. IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties. The Government points to no statute in which Congress used the word ‘regulate’ to authorize taxation. And until now no President has read IEEPA to confer such power.”
Trump implied Monday that while the court had ruled against charging country's a license fee, "ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES" and so the U.S. may do the same. He did not go into further detail about how he might impose license fees.
The court's decision has not affected other tariffs that were not imposed under IEEPA. These include industry-specific tariffs imposed on steel, aluminum, autos and parts and other industries. Trump also said they could "all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way."
He did not go into further details about how he might extend these tariffs but after the court ruling on Friday, Trump announced a new 10 percent blanket tariff on all countries—“many of which have been ripping the U.S. off for decades” he said—later raising it to 15 percent on Saturday pending a review of what he described as “new and legally permissible tariffs.” These will come into effect on Tuesday, the White House said.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Friday: "During the next short number of months, the Trump administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of making America great again—greater than ever before."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, wrote on X: "No one can deny that the President’s use of tariffs has brought in billions of dollars and created immense leverage for America’s trade strategy and for securing strong, reciprocal America-first trade agreements with countries that had been taking advantage of American workers for decades. Congress and the Administration will determine the best path forward in the coming weeks."
Trump's Truth Social post on Monday in full: "The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling. For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely “terrible” things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades, but incomprehensibly, according to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee - BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES, why can’t the United States do so? You do a license to get a fee! The opinion doesn’t explain that, but I know the answer! The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used. Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people, and for that they should be ashamed of themselves (but not the Great Three!). The next thing you know they will rule in favor of China and others, who are making an absolute fortune on Birthright Citizenship, by saying the 14th Amendment was NOT written to take care of the “babies of slaves,” which it was as proven by the EXACT TIMING of its construction, filing, and ratification, which perfectly coincided with the END OF THE CIVIL WAR. How much better can you do than that? But this supreme court will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion, one that again will make China, and various other Nations, happy and rich. Let our supreme court keep making decisions that are so bad and deleterious to the future of our Nation - I have a job to do. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
What Happens Next
Trump's new tariffs are permitted for 150 days under Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, but will automatically expire unless extended by a congressional vote before the end of that period.
Update, 02/23/2026, 9:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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