Trump says he signed a 10% global tariff after Supreme Court decision
FACT CHECK: “Very powerful alternatives that have been approved by this decision.”
TRUMP: “But it doesn’t matter, because we have very powerful alternatives that have been approved by this decision. You know, they’ve been approved by the decision.”
While the Court didn’t “approve” any alternatives, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh did argue in his dissent that the president has other options to tariff: “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, and 301); 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.”
FACT CHECK: “I’m not allowed to charge even $1”
TRUMP: “To show you how ridiculous the opinion is, however, the court said that I’m not allowed to charge even $1. I can’t charge $1. Can’t charge $1 “
This is correct. Trump cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to tariff other countries for even $1.
FACT CHECK: “I GUESS IT HAS TO BE LITIGATED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS”
TRUMP: “Wouldn’t you think they would have put one sentence in there saying that, keep the money, or don’t keep the money, right? I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years.”
It’s more complicated than this, but in layman’s terms, the federal government can just refund, using tariff receipts. It doesn’t HAVE to get into litigation here.
FACT CHECK: “We have a right to do pretty much what we want to do”
QUESTION: “Mr. President, the 122 tariffs, that 10% is that going to be for 150 days? Or do you want to charge that indefinitely?”
TRUMP: “We have a right to do pretty much what we want to do, but we’re going to charge it starting effectively. I think it’s three days from now.”
The Trump administration does not have a right to do “pretty much what we want to do.” Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the president to institute a “temporary import surcharge” of up to 15% if he finds there are “large and serious” balance-of-payments deficits, to prevent an “imminent” and “significant” depreciation of the U.S. dollar in foreign exchange markets. This is temporary, though — these are not to exceed 150 days unless extended by Congress.
FACT CHECK: “FOREIGN INTERESTS,” TRUMP SAYS, “HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE OVER THE SUPREME COURT”
QUESTION: What did you mean a moment ago when you said that the Supreme Court has been swayed by foreign interests?
TRUMP: Well, I think that foreign interests are represented by people that I believe have undue influence. They have a lot of influence over the Supreme Court, whether it’s through fear or respect or friendships, I don’t know, but I know some of the people that were involved on the other side, and I don’t like them. I think they’re real slimeballs, and got to do what’s right for the country.
There is currently no publicly available evidence Supreme Court justices are being influenced by foreign actors.
