President Donald J. Trump. (Photo: Whitehouse.gov)
Trump Responds, Issues Global 10% Tariff on all Countries
In essence, the Court concluded that the President checked the wrong statutory box by relying on IEEPA rather than another statute to impose these tariffs
By Katy Grimes, February 21, 2026 8:59 am
The United States Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Friday, delivering the President a rare loss. As the Globe reported, 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.
The President reacted immediately and said while he was disappointed, it was not going to prevent him from a workaround to re-issue tariffs, under a different section of federal law.
And during a press conference Friday, the President 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.”
Here is part of that dissenting opinion:
JUSTICE KAVANAUGH, with whom JUSTICE THOMAS and
JUSTICE ALITO join, dissenting.
Acting pursuant to his statutory authority to “regulate
. . . importation” under the 1977 International Emergency
Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, the President has imposed
tariffs on imports of foreign goods from various countries.
The tariffs have generated vigorous policy debates. Those
policy debates are not for the Federal Judiciary to resolve.
Rather, the Judiciary’s more limited role is to neutrally
interpret and apply the law. The sole legal question here is
whether, under IEEPA, tariffs are a means to “regulate . . .
importation.” Statutory text, history, and precedent
demonstrate that the answer is clearly yes: Like quotas
and embargoes, tariffs are a traditional and common tool to regulate importation.
Kavanaugh notes:
Since early in U. S. history, Congress has regularly
authorized the President to impose tariffs on imports of
foreign goods. Presidents have often used that authority to
obtain leverage with foreign nations, help American
manufacturers and workers compete on a more level
playing field, and generate revenue for the United States.
And they address that In recent years, Presidents George W. Bush, Obama, and Biden have all imposed tariffs on foreign imports under those statutory authorities.
Under IEEPA, and during national emergencies, the President has the authority to impose tariffs, Kavanaugh argues:
During declared national
emergencies, IEEPA broadly authorizes the President to
regulate international economic transactions. Most
relevant for this case, during those national emergencies,
IEEPA grants the President the power to “regulate . . .
importation” of foreign goods.
In early 2025, President Trump declared two national
emergencies pursuant to the National Emergencies Act.
See 50 U. S. C. §1621(a). One emergency concerned drug
trafficking into the United States. The other emergency
involved trade imbalances with foreign nations that have
harmed American manufacturers and workers.
To help address those emergencies, the President drew
upon his authority in IEEPA to “regulate . . . importation,”
and he imposed tariffs on imports from various countries.
Justice Kavanaugh even provides the definition of tariff:
Imposing tariffs on imports is clearly a way of controlling
imports (Black’s); governing or directing imports according
to rule (Webster’s, American Heritage); adjusting imports
by rule, method, or established mode (Black’s, American
Heritage); or more generally subjecting imports to
governing principles or laws (Black’s). So the dictionary
definitions amply demonstrate that tariffs are a means to
“regulate . . . importation” of foreign imports.
And Kavanaugh offers the roadmap going forward:
Although I firmly disagree with the Court’s holding
today, the decision might not substantially constrain a
President’s ability to order tariffs going forward. That is
because numerous other federal statutes authorize the
President to impose tariffs and might justify most (if not
all) of the tariffs at issue in this case—albeit perhaps with
a few additional procedural steps that IEEPA, as an
emergency statute, does not require. Those statutes
include, for example, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962
(Section 232); the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 122, 201, and301); and the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 338).
In essence, the Court today concludes that the President checked the
wrong statutory box by relying on IEEPA rather than
another statute to impose these tariffs.
Wow.
President Trump spelled out his disappointment and frustrations with the court, and wasted no time acting. He posted his decisions on Truth Social:
It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
What happened today with the two United States Supreme Court Justices that I appointed against great opposition, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whether people like it or not, never seems to happen with Democrats. They vote against the Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every single time, no matter how good a case we have. At least I didn’t appoint Roberts, who led the effort to allow Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for years to continue to do so — But we won’t let it happen. The new TARIFFS, totally tested and accepted as Law, are on their way! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
and:
Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been “ripping” the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level. During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again – GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Here are his orders, proclamations and statements:
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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Glad to see this followup and further explanation.
You know, it would have been one thing, and inappropriate I think, for a U.S. President to call out Supreme Court members who ruled against his policy, or to remind those members and the rest of the country that they were appointed by HIM —- IF they were FOLLOWING THE LAW, that is. But they weren’t following the law. There does seem to be an unknown influence on those justices; an influence that twists their arms against their better judgment and against what’s right, as President Trump noted. Not good.
As Katy Grimes pointed out, it’s ridiculous that Presidents George W. Bush, Obama, and Biden all imposed tariffs on foreign imports under those exact same statutory authorities but yet the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s use of those same tariffs?
Chief Justice John Roberts is more than likely compromised? Many question whether Roberts changed his decision on the Obamacare after he was “blackmailed” by President Obama stemming from Roberts be involved in an illegal adoption and child trafficking scheme? Roberts and his wife adopted two children from Ireland even though Irish law prohibits the adoption of children to non-residents, and also does not permit private adoptions, but rather requires that all adoptions go through a public agency. Evidently Roberts arranged for this adoption through some sort of trafficking agency which got the children out of Ireland and into a Latin American country, from which they were adopted, thereby circumventing the two Irish laws. Roberts and his wife probably spent a great deal of money for this illegal process, circumventing Irish laws and arranging for the transit of two Irish children from separate birth-mothers to a foreign nation.
Then there is the fact that a “John Roberts” appears in the court-released documents containing flight logs for Epstein’s private jet which is suspicious?
Additionally it’s alleged that Roberts worked with Justice Stephen Breyer to make sure that Trump lost the 2020 election during a phone call in August 2019 stating that he would make sure ‘the motherf#*ker would never be re-elected.’ Ethical concerns were raised in 2025 when an investigation alleged Roberts’ involvement in an exclusive, invite-only group called the American Inns of Court, which includes judges who are politically liberal, such as Ketanji Brown Jackson and James Boasberg.
No doubt Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett are compromised as well? Amy Coney Barrett’s adoption of two unrelated children from Haiti has also raised questions as to whether proper legal protocols were followed. Gorsuch faced scrutiny in 2024 for failing to recuse himself from an environmental case despite ties to a billionaire donor who filed a brief in the matter.
It’s no wonder that President Trump expressed his disappointment and frustrations with the court?
Roberts integrity also came into question regarding his past epileptic seizures and possibly how those seizures related an application for a driver’s license he submitted devoid of health disclosures.
How can it be folks of such failed character exemplified by sitting justices be in a position of dominion over us?
Milton Friedman, Ronald Reagan’s top economic advisor opposed tariffs because they distort market efficiency, harm consumers by raising prices, and benefit a small group of producers at the expense of the general public. He argued that free trade leads to greater prosperity and efficiency by allowing resources to be allocated where they are inmost effective.
Donald Trump is aggressively implementing tariffs because the US dollar is sinking in value and he knows it: He’s trying to “bleed out” our trade partners pursuant to our rapidly failing dollar.
If Donald Trump’s intent was not disingenuous he’d be doing everything in his power to increase the value of the US dollar by “paying down” the horrific debt: Rather he’s doing just the opposite: While Trump and his cronies are sinking the dollar the Chinese are buying gold at a breakneck rate: This begs the question, Mr Trump whose side are you really on?
Add to the mix Deficit Donald’s obsession with igniting a proxy war with Iran: This is not a minor issue. The pending preparedness for such a flareup is being taken seriously but Russia China et al.
Newsom’s troll Eyeinthesky is back spewing misinformation and outright lies.
Nearly every country on the planet imposes tariffs which are used to generate government revenue and protect domestic industries from foreign competition.
The U.S. had some of the lowest tariffs in the world before President Trump took office. The U.S. had a simple average most-favored-nation tariff rate of 3.3% while in contrast key trading partners had much higher averages: India (17%), China (7.5%), Brazil (11.2%), and the European Union (5%). The weighted mean U.S. tariff rate was about 1.5%, significantly lower than the global average of around 2.6%.
Milton Friedman was a Jewish globalist. His and other globalist’s “free trade” policies and opposition to tariffs resulted in the U.S. having the largest trade deficit in the world with huge trade deficits with countries like China, Mexico, European Union, Vietnam, Taiwan, etc. all of which impose high tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods and products. This ridiculous “free trade” policy and opposition to tariffs resulted in the hollowing out of the United States manufacturing capabilities and the shuttering of manufacturing plants across the country.
The Trump administration inherited these huge trade deficits and enormous budget deficits that have been growing astronomically for years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boldly stated at the recent Munich conference that deindustrialization of the United States was a deliberate, decades-long policy choice by the globalists which stripped the United States of wealth, productive capacity, and independence.
The Trump administration is actively reversing the globalist’s destructive deindustrialization through tariffs, industrial policy, large-scale investment, support for critical sectors, and a renewed focus on physical economy and household incomes.
A weaker U.S. dollar helps American manufacturers primarily by making their exports cheaper and more competitive in international markets. When the dollar declines in value, foreign buyers can purchase U.S. goods at a lower cost in their own currencies, increasing demand and boosting sales. This can lead to higher production, more jobs, and stronger profits for export-oriented manufacturers.
The only war being raged in Iran is against it’s own people who have risen up to overthrow the brutal dictatorship that was installed there by the globalists. The death toll of innocent Iranians being slaughtered by the regime is estimated to be from 25,000 to over 33,000 based on hospital records and forensic reports.
Newsom and his trolls like Eyeinthesky are demonic globalist pawns who are probably getting paid from some very nefarious sources? Maybe from China’s CCP?
Tariffs on imported goods accounted for the vast majority of federal revenue from the late 18th century until the early 20th century. Before the Civil War, they provided about 90% of federal income, and even after the war, tariffs remained the dominant revenue source, contributing around 50% of government funding in the late 19th century. The Hamilton Tariff of 1789 was the first major law passed by Congress, explicitly authorizing duties on imports to support government operations.
The shift began during the Civil War, when the federal government introduced the first income tax in 1862 to help finance war costs although that tax was later declared unconstitutional.
The ratification of the 16th Amendment in 1913 granted Congress the authority to levy an income tax without apportionment which led to the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered average tariff rates and permanently established the federal income tax as the main source of government revenue. After 1913, tariffs became a minor contributor, now accounting for only about 2% of federal revenue in recent years.
Hopefully the Trump administration can once again make tariffs the main source of government revenue and abolish the income tax?
Newsom’s troll Eyeinthesky is back spewing misinformation and outright lies.
Nearly every country on the planet imposes tariffs which are used to generate government revenue and protect domestic industries from foreign competition.
The U.S. had some of the lowest tariffs in the world before President Trump took office. The U.S. had a simple average most-favored-nation tariff rate of 3.3% while in contrast key trading partners had much higher averages: India (17%), China (7.5%), Brazil (11.2%), and the European Union (5%). The weighted mean U.S. tariff rate was about 1.5%, significantly lower than the global average of around 2.6%.
Milton Friedman was a Jewish globalist. His and other globalist’s “free trade” policies and opposition to tariffs resulted in the U.S. having the largest trade deficit in the world with huge trade deficits with countries like China, Mexico, European Union, Vietnam, Taiwan, etc. all of which impose high tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods and products. This ridiculous “free trade” policy and opposition to tariffs resulted in the hollowing out of the United States manufacturing capabilities and the shuttering of manufacturing plants across the country.
The Trump administration inherited these huge trade deficits and enormous budget deficits that have been growing astronomically for years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boldly stated at the recent Munich conference that deindustrialization of the United States was a deliberate, decades-long policy choice by the globalists which stripped the United States of wealth, productive capacity, and independence.
The Trump administration is actively reversing the globalist’s destructive deindustrialization through tariffs, industrial policy, large-scale investment, support for critical sectors, and a renewed focus on physical economy and household incomes.
A weaker U.S. dollar helps American manufacturers primarily by making their exports cheaper and more competitive in international markets. When the dollar declines in value, foreign buyers can purchase U.S. goods at a lower cost in their own currencies, increasing demand and boosting sales. This can lead to higher production, more jobs, and stronger profits for export-oriented manufacturers.
The only war being raged in Iran is against it’s own people who have risen up to overthrow the brutal dictatorship that was installed there by the globalists. The death toll of innocent Iranians being slaughtered by the regime is estimated to be from 25,000 to over 33,000 based on hospital records and forensic reports.
Newsom and his trolls like Eyeinthesky are demonic globalist pawns who are probably getting paid from some very nefarious sources? Maybe from China’s CCP?