DONALD TRUMP ISSUES NEW SUPREME COURT WARNING AS TARIFF DECISION LOOMS
President Donald Trump warned Monday that the United States would face chaos if the Supreme Court strikes down his tariff authority, claiming it would be “a complete mess” for the government to repay the billions collected under his trade measures.
Trump wrote on social media that issuing refunds could be nearly impossible, saying the amounts involved would be so large it could take years to determine “who, when and where” to pay.
“Remember, when America shines brightly, the World shines brightly,” Trump said in part on Truth Social. “In other words, if the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, WE’RE SCREWED!”
Why It Matters
The president has repeatedly posted warnings ahead of the court’s looming decision, arguing for days that the government would struggle to unwind his tariffs if justices rule he lacked the power to impose many of them unilaterally. In his latest message, he again suggested repayment “may not be possible.”
Trump and his administration have railed against the courts during the past year, complaining when federal judges have ruled against their policies, from immigration to tariffs. For the Supreme Court, this has been no different, with officials seeking to influence decisions through statements and interviews, while justices along the bench have at times pushed back.
What To Know
In a lengthy post on Monday, Trump said that repaying the money collected from his tariffs would not just affect that revenue but also the investment companies make in building “plants, factories, and equipment” to avoid paying the fees—i.e., building in the U.S. instead.
That has been the driving factor for Trump: to revitalize American manufacturing and bring back jobs seen as lost to China and other countries where manufacturing is cheaper.
“When these Investments are added, we are talking about Trillions of Dollars! It would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay,” Trump posted Monday. “Anybody who says that it can be quickly and easily done would be making a false, inaccurate, or totally misunderstood answer to this very large and complex question.”
Some companies sued the administration over the implementation of tariffs, arguing that the president used his authority correctly or abused it when introducing them last year. The Supreme Court then heard oral arguments on the case in November.
Trump’s apparent fear is that if the country’s highest court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, he will be forced to refund the money collected from tariffs imposed at various levels on products and commodities. The court does have the power to make a ruling somewhere in the middle, however, which means only a partial repayment is possible.
The administration has also suggested it can use other methods to impose and collect tariffs, should justices rule against its use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Critics have said that Trump’s tariff policy, which has included various adjustments, withdrawals and reintroductions of fees depending on the item or country, has caused too much disruption for American consumers, who they say foot the bill rather than the countries hit with the tariff in the first place.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about paying back tariffs on Monday: “It may not be possible but, if it were, it would be Dollars that would be so large that it would take many years to figure out what number we are talking about and even, who, when, and where, to pay.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking Thursday: “What is not in doubt is our ability to continue collecting tariffs at roughly the same level, in terms of overall revenues. What is in doubt, and it’s a real shame for the American people, was the president loses flexibility to use tariffs both for national security, for negotiating leverage.”
Nora Szentivanyi, senior global economist at J.P. Morgan, said in a release on December 5: “We estimate IEEPA measures account for roughly 61% of the year-to-date increase in U.S. tariffs, or about $180 bn on an annualized basis as of October. However, we do not expect a decision revoking IEEPA tariffs to have a material impact on where the level of the effective tariff rate settles.”
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court has yet to issue its decision, and it remains unclear when it will be issued.
Update 1/12/26, 3:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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2026-01-12T20:18:09Z
