Trump criticizes Supreme court tariff ruling during State of the Union address

In his State of the Union address, former President Donald Trump described a recent Supreme Court decision overturning his signature tariffs as “unfortunate,” even as he promoted his broader economic agenda.

The address came just days after the Supreme Court struck down most of his 2025 tariffs, which had been implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Despite this legal setback, Trump asserted that new trade deals would be unnecessary, claiming that other nations were satisfied with existing agreements that had been negotiated using the now-invalidated tariffs as leverage.

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In response to the ruling, Trump swiftly signed an executive order imposing a 10% “global tariff” under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Unlike the IEEPA tariffs, these new duties are limited to 150 days unless they receive congressional approval.

“They’re a little more complex, but they’re actually probably better, leading to a solution that will be even stronger than before,” Trump said of the new tariffs during his speech. “Congressional action will not be necessary.”

He added, “It’s already time-tested and approved, and as time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.”

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According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the IEEPA tariffs generated approximately $129 billion in revenue. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, numerous companies, including FedEx, have initiated legal proceedings at the Court of International Trade to seek refunds.

The economic impact of these tariffs remains a subject of debate. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that “90% of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.” This finding contradicts the claim that foreign countries bear the cost.

The Supreme Court’s ruling coincides with widespread public concern over the economy and affordability. While the U.S. economy grew by 2.2% in 2025, recent data indicates that job creation has stalled. Economists have suggested this trend is exacerbating the wealth gap.

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Public sentiment appears to reflect these economic anxieties. A February poll by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos found that a majority of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy, inflation, and international relations. Furthermore, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey for February showed a 12% drop in confidence compared to the same month in 2025.

Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, noted that while consumers’ pessimism about the future has “eased somewhat,” overall confidence remains “well below” the four-year high recorded in November 2024.