WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday warned that the United States would be “screwed” if the Supreme Court rules that some of his tariffs are illegal, potentially forcing the government to repay hundreds of billions of dollars to American companies.
Trump, posting on his social media platform Truth Social, said the repayment could escalate into trillions of dollars when factoring in investments companies made to avoid paying tariffs.
“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 wrote.
“In other words, if the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, WE’RE SCREWED!”
Background on the Case
The Supreme Court heard arguments in November regarding Trump’s use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly every US trade partner. The levies targeted Mexico, Canada, and China, among others, citing their alleged roles in drug trafficking.
During oral arguments, several conservative justices, along with the liberal bloc, expressed skepticism that IEEPA gave Trump authority to impose such sweeping tariffs.
The Court is scheduled to release opinions on Wednesday, and the case could be among them. The ruling does not affect sector-specific tariffs Trump imposed separately on steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
Economic Implications
Trump has repeatedly argued that overturning his tariffs would create a “complete mess” for the US economy. His measures have brought the average effective US tariff rate to its highest level since the 1930s, with the president framing them as a national security imperative.
