What is Trump’s Plan B After Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs?

UPDATE below: In a rare loss for President Donald Trump, the United States Supreme Court struck down some of Trump’s tariffs on Friday. The ruling impacts the 10 percent tariff Trump imposed on most countries, as well as specific, higher tariffs on some of the top U.S. trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, China, the European Union, Japan and South Korea, Politico reported.

“The 6-3 decision is a rare instance of the conservative-led court reining in Trump’s expansive use of executive power,” Politico said.

But this is not a “no-tariff” decision as most of the media would have you believe.

In a press conference Friday morning, Trump expressed his disappointment with the decision, and especially the three conservative justices who sided with the three liberal justices, but congratulated Justices Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh for their “love of country.” He said about the dissenting opinions by Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh, “no one can argue against them. Foreign countries have been ripping us off for a long time.”

“This was a very important case to me, for national security. And important to our country because we are doing so well… never done so well,” Trump said.

He said he was “well-behaved” with tariffs, and kept them modest so the court would notice.

Trump said “the stock market just broke 50K on the Dow, and 7,000 on S&P – two numbers everyone thought could not be attained. They said it could not be done in four years – We did it in one year. We broke every record in the book.”

Trump noted that tariffs have been likewise used to settle five of eight wars. The President of Pakistan told Trump today he saved 35,000,000 lives by ending the potential war with India. Tariffs stopped fentanyl from coming into country, as well.

He added that “Tariffs all will remain after this decision, since there’s no one left to appeal to. We have alternatives. Could be more money. We’ve taken in hundreds of millions of dollars. To show you how ridiculous the decision is, the court said I can’t even charge $1, which must be done to protect other countries. But I am allowed to cut off all trade… I can destroy other countries, embargo, but can’t charge $1. I’m allowed to embargo them and not do business with the U.S. anymore…”

Trump specifically named Justice Brett Kavanaugh again, and said, “I’m so proud of him,” whose dissent offers a roadmap ahead.

Here is President Trump’s statement:

The Supreme Court’s Ruling on TARIFFS is deeply disappointing! I am ashamed of certain Members of the Court for not having the Courage to do what is right for our Country. I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your Strength, Wisdom, and Love of our Country, which is right now very proud of you. When you read the dissenting opinions, there is no way that anyone can argue against them. Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic, and dancing in the streets — But they won’t be dancing for long! The Democrats on the Court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote “NO” against ANYTHING that makes America Strong and Healthy Again. They, also, are a Disgrace to our Nation. Others think they’re being “politically correct,” which has happened before, far too often, with certain Members of this Court when, in fact, they’re just FOOLS and “LAPDOGS” for the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats and, not that this should have anything to do with it, very unpatriotic, and disloyal to the Constitution. It is my opinion that the Court has been swayed by Foreign Interests, and a Political Movement that is far smaller than people would think — But obnoxious, ignorant, and loud!

This was an important case to me, more as a symbol of Economic and National Security, than anything else. The Good News is that there are methods, practices, Statutes, and other Authorities, as recognized by the entire Court and Congress, that are even stronger than the IEEPA TARIFFS, available to me as President of the United States of America and, in actuality, I was very modest in my “ask” of other Countries and Businesses because I wanted to do nothing that could sway the decision that has been rendered by the Court.

I have very effectively utilized TARIFFS over the past year to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Our Stock Market has just recently broken the 50,000 mark on the DOW and, simultaneously, 7,000 on the S&P, two numbers that everybody thought, upon our Landslide Election Victory, could not be attained until the very end of my Administration — Four years! TARIFFS have, likewise, been used to end five of the eight Wars that I settled, have given us Great National Security and, together with our Strong Border, reduced Fentanyl coming into our Country by 30%, when I use them as a penalty against Countries illegally sending this poison to us. All of those TARIFFS remain, but other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the Court incorrectly rejected.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s teenage press team did not disappoint with their hyperbole, and posted this on X:

CALLED IT!

Trump’s tariffs were ILLEGAL from day one. An unconstitutional tax — and now it’s dead.

WHEN IS TRUMP GOING TO REFUND EVERY DAY AMERICAN PEOPLE THE $1,700 HE ILLEGALLY TAXED THEM?

🔗 https://t.co/Dl3TpOhA9z pic.twitter.com/V2nhXe1UEk

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 20, 2026