Washington, Feb 21, 2026 — In one of the most forceful rebukes of the judiciary in his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly denounced six justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, accusing them of lacking “courage” and being “ashamed” of their ruling that struck down his sweeping global tariffs.
The ruling — arguably the biggest legal blow to Trump in his current term — declared that presidents do not possess inherent authority to impose all-encompassing tariffs on foreign nations.
A President’s Anger on Full Display
Speaking from the White House just hours after the decision was released, Trump delivered a blistering 45-minute press conference, repeatedly returning to the justices who ruled against him.
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court. Absolutely ashamed,” he said, accusing them of failing to “do what’s right for our country.”
The unusually personal attack went far beyond typical political criticism, highlighting the president’s deep frustration after aggressively defending his tariff policy for more than a year.
Six Justices, Both Conservative and Liberal, Drew Trump’s Ire
The majority ruling was supported by a mix of conservative and liberal justices — a rare alignment.
Those voting against Trump’s tariff authority included:
- John Roberts
- Neil Gorsuch
- Amy Coney Barrett
- Sonia Sotomayor
- Elena Kagan
- Ketanji Brown Jackson
Trump singled out even his own appointees — Gorsuch and Barrett — calling their votes an “embarrassment” and even mentioning their families, an extremely unusual step for a sitting president.
He also suggested, without evidence, that the court was influenced by “foreign interests,” but declined to elaborate when pressed by reporters.
Praise for the Dissenting Justices
While six justices drew Trump’s anger, the remaining three — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh — received glowing praise.
Justice Kavanaugh authored a lengthy dissent warning that striking down the tariffs would force the government to issue billions in refunds and create a legal “mess.”
Trump thanked the trio for their “strength and wisdom,” making special mention of Kavanaugh, another of his first-term appointees.
A Deeply Personal Reaction to a High-Stakes Case
Trade analysts say Trump’s reaction reflects how crucial the case was to his economic strategy.
Alan Wm Wolff, former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, said the court understood the significance of the ruling for the president.
Colin Grabow of the Cato Institute described the verdict as “a victory for the rule of law,” but said the president’s emotional response was unsurprising:
“The Supreme Court said he went too far. President Trump took that as an affront.”
What Comes Next?
Despite the ruling, Trump vowed to continue imposing tariffs through other legal pathways. Hours after the verdict, he introduced a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 — a move already shaking global markets.
The fierce clash between the White House and the Supreme Court signals a growing confrontation over presidential power, trade policy, and constitutional limits.
As court challenges continue and global partners react, the U.S. trade landscape remains in a state of uncertainty.