US President Donald Trump has once again defended his tariff policy, asserting that the aggressive levies have made the United States the “richest” and “most respected” country in the world. He dismissed his opponents as “fools” and claimed that every American, except the wealthy, would soon receive at least $2,000 (approx. Rs 1,77,000) from tariff revenues collected by his administration. The remarks followed the US Supreme Court raising doubts over the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs in a case with significant implications for the global economy, testing the scope of presidential powers.
“People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER. We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that the tariffs have led to a surge in domestic investment: “Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place. A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone. Businesses are pouring into the USA ONLY BECAUSE OF TARIFFS.” Trump also sought to justify his actions, arguing that presidential powers allow far more extreme measures than tariffs: “So, let’s get this straight??? The President of the United States is allowed (and fully approved by Congress!) to stop ALL TRADE with a Foreign Country (Which is far more onerous than a Tariff!), and LICENSE a Foreign Country, but is not allowed to put a simple Tariff on a Foreign Country, even for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY. That is NOT what our great Founders had in mind! The whole thing is ridiculous! Other Countries can Tariff us, but we can’t Tariff them??? It is their DREAM!!! Businesses are pouring into the USA ONLY BECAUSE OF TARIFFS. HAS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOT BEEN TOLD THIS??? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??”
The statement came after conservative and liberal justices of the Supreme Court questioned the lawyer representing Trump’s administration about whether the president had overstepped Congress in imposing tariffs under a 1977 law intended for use during national emergencies. Some conservative justices also suggested the court could be sharply divided, despite its 6-3 conservative majority.
During arguments, the justices asked US Solicitor General D. John Sauer whether Trump’s use of the statute to impose unlimited-duration tariffs constituted a major executive action requiring clear congressional authorization. The appeals followed lower court rulings that the administration’s use of the law exceeded presidential authority. Businesses affected by the tariffs and 12 mostly Democratic-led states had challenged the measures.
The tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods, could generate trillions of dollars over the next decade. Trump has pressed the Supreme Court to uphold the tariffs, which he considers a key economic and foreign policy tool.
