President Donald Trump reportedly exploded into an expletive-laden tirade after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs, marking the end of one of his signature economic initiatives.
The 79-year-old Republican raged at “these effing courts” — using the actual expletive — and called the decision a “disgrace” during a breakfast with governors at the White House, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, a number of lawmakers, particularly Democrats, lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling as a victory for American consumers and the separation of powers.
In the 6–3 opinion released on Friday morning, the justices ruled that Trump’s levies were not authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which permits the president to regulate trade in “unusual and extraordinary” circumstances when a national emergency is declared.
Chief Justice John Roberts authored the ruling, and was joined by conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett in addition to the high court’s three liberal justices.
“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Roberts wrote. “In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.”
Previously, two lower courts, including the U.S. Court of International Trade, sided with the businesses that sued the administration, saying the president had overstepped his authority when declaring a national emergency.
Trump calls court’s ruling a ‘disgrace’: report
President Donald Trump has responded to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to strike down his tariffs.
During a White House breakfast on Friday morning, he called the decision a “disgrace,” according to CNN, which reported that he “has a backup plan.”
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 15:41
Trump calls justices who ruled against him a ‘disgrace to our nation’
During a White House briefing on Friday afternoon, Trump lashed out at the six Supreme Court justices who ruled against him on tariffs.
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court — absolutely ashamed — for not having the courage to do what’s right for the country,” the Republican president said during a press briefing.
He went on to call the justices a “disgrace to our nation” and “fools and lapdogs.”
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 18:25
The Trump tariffs most affected after Supreme Court ruling
The IEEPA grants the president broad powers to regulate commerce following a declaration of national emergency.
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 18:05
‘There is now no room for doubt:’ Mitch McConnell applauds court’s ruling
Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the former Senate majority leader, applauded the high court’s decision.
“Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed authority that has rested with Congress for centuries,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“As a matter of Constitutional authority, there is now no room for doubt: the use of IEEPA to circumvent Congress in the imposition of tariffs – already without precedent – is also illegal,” he added.
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:50
Trump went on expletive-laden rant when learning of court’s ruling, report says
President Trump went on an expletive-laden tirade upon learning of the high court’s ruling, according to a report.
The Republican president was having breakfast with a group of governors on Friday morning when the court struck down the president’s sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 ruling.
Trump reportedly became “enraged” and “started ranting about the decision,” according to CNN.
At one point he attacked the judiciary, saying “these effing courts,” according to the outlet.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:30
Stocks jump as Wall Street reacts to bombshell Supreme Court tariffs ruling
The bombshell ruling offered relief to investors after weaker-than-expected economic data dented sentiment earlier in the day.
The U.S. top court ruled against Trump’s global tariffs enacted under a federal law meant for national emergencies.
Sruthi Shankar and Shashwat Chauhan report…
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:30
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Congress and White House ‘will determine the best path forward’
Following this morning’s ruling, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that Congress and the White House will work together to determine next steps.
“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,” the Louisiana Republican wrote in a post on X.
“Congress and the Administration will determine the best path forward in the coming weeks,” he added.
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:25
How is the UK reacting? It insists on its ‘privileged position’
The U.K.’s foreign secretary is due to meet her U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio in the next hour.
Yvette Cooper may have this new development to add to her agenda now, as the U.K. tries to seek clarity on what this means for their trading relationship.
But in a brief statement in the meantime, the government has said it expects its “privileged trading position” with the U.S. to live on.
“The UK enjoys the lowest reciprocal tariffs globally, and under any scenario we expect our privileged trading position with the US to continue,” a British government spokesperson said. “We will work with the (U.S.) administration to understand how the ruling will affect tariffs for the UK and the rest of the world.”
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:22
Trump set to hold afternoon briefing on court’s tariff decision
Trump is set to hold a briefing on the Supreme Court’s landmark decision at 12:45 p.m. ET, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 17:05
Rand Paul says ruling makes clear what ‘should have been obvious’
Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has frequently found himself at odds with the administration, said the ruling “makes plain what should have been obvious.”
He wrote on X that the authority to impose tariffs is “very clearly a branch of the power to tax.”
Brendan Rascius20 February 2026 16:55
