In an extraordinary display of executive defiance, President Trump announced Saturday a sweeping 15% tariff on imports from every country in the world, responding to a Supreme Court ruling against him with a new legal strategy and a wave of personal attacks against the justices.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the IEEPA-based tariffs Trump had introduced were unlawful without congressional approval. Rather than pause, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose the new 15% rate, describing it as a legitimate and legally validated tool. It is the first time any president has used this particular provision.
At the White House, Trump made clear his contempt for the ruling, saying he was “ashamed” of justices who lacked the “courage to do what’s right.” He spared no one in his majority, calling Barrett and Gorsuch — his own nominees — an embarrassment and suggesting they were barely welcome at next week’s State of the Union address.
Meanwhile, European leaders were scrambling to respond. Chancellor Merz of Germany called tariff instability “poison” for economic confidence and announced a trip to Washington to present a coordinated EU response. UK trade groups warned of broader economic damage, noting that British businesses had already adjusted to a 10% rate now being superseded.
Exemptions from the new 15% tariff include critical minerals, metals, pharmaceuticals, and goods from Canada and Mexico complying with USMCA rules. Sector-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and autos remain unaffected by the Supreme Court’s ruling. The $130 billion already collected in tariffs has largely been paid by American businesses and consumers.