President Donald Trump has signed off on a 10 percent global tariff, he announced Friday evening.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The move comes after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 decision. Soon afterward, Trump vowed to enact the new global tariff, authorized by a federal law that would limit it to 150 days.
Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has demanded that Trump issue an $8.6 billion refund to the state’s residents after his tariffs “wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof.”
When asked about Pritzker’s letter, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Independent: “The immense weight of Illinois’s sky-high taxes and regulations is matched only by JB Pritzker’s own personal bloat.”
“If this slob really cared about delivering economic relief for Illinois, he’d start with his own state government instead of chasing another stupid headline,” he added.
During a press conference Friday, Trump raged at the justices who ruled against him, labeling them “fools and lapdogs” and a “disgrace to our nation.” Meanwhile, several lawmakers — particularly Democrats — lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling as a victory for American consumers and the separation of powers.
ICYMI: Here’s what Trump said in his press conference about the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling
During a White House press conference on Friday, Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court over its landmark 6-3 decision to strike down his sweeping tariffs.
Here are some of the key moments:
- Trump said he is “ashamed” of the six justices who ruled against him, a group that includes Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. He went on to call the justices a “disgrace to our nation” and “fools and lapdogs.”
- In contrast, he praised the three conservative members of the court who dissented, singling out Justice Brett Kavanaugh for his “great ability.”
- He also took issue with the court’s timing. “They could have made this decision a long time ago,” he said.
- Trump listed three acts that he says justify his sweeping levies: the Trade Expansion of Act 1962, the Trade Act of 1974 and the Tariff Act of 1930.
- Despite the court’s decision, the 79-year-old GOP president also announced he will sign an executive order imposing a global 10% tariff.
- When asked if the justices who ruled against him would still be invited to the State of the Union, Trump said they would just “barely” be invited.
Chuck Schumer responds to treasury secretary
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has responded to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who commented Friday on potential tariff refunds following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
When asked about potential refunds at an Economic Club of Dallas event on Friday, Bessent said he has “a feeling the American people won’t see it.”
Schumer responded: “Trump illegally taxed American families and small businesses, and he’s not giving them their money back. Even his Treasury Secretary admits it.”
Trump signs off on global 10% tariff
President Donald Trump signed off on a 10 percent global tariff, he announced Friday evening.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier Friday, the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 decision. Soon afterward, Trump vowed to implement the new 10 percent global tariff, authorized by a law that restricts it to 150 days.
Pritzker demands $8.6 billion refund from Trump administration
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called on President Donald Trump to refund billions of dollars to the people of Illinois after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs.
“Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof. This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court Justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional,” Pritzker wrote in a letter addressed to Trump.
“On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois. There are 5,105,448 households in my state, bringing the total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600,” he added.
When asked about Pritzker’s letter, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Axios: “The immense weight of Illinois’s sky-high taxes and regulations is matched only by JB Pritzker’s own personal bloat.”
“If this slob really cared about delivering economic relief for Illinois, he’d start with his own state government instead of chasing another stupid headline,” he added.
Earlier Friday, Pritzker posted a video on X claiming Trump “illegally took $1,700 from every American family” after implementing his tariffs.
Lindsey Graham says Trump has ‘many options’ to keep existing tariffs
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said in a lengthy statement on X that he believes President Donald Trump has “many options” to keep his existing tariffs despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“While I accept the Court’s ruling, I believe that @POTUS does have many options regarding keeping existing tariffs in place under authorities beyond the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA),” Graham wrote.
“I support President Trump’s decision to fight refunds. I did not think they are necessary or appropriate, and I’m sure that they will be subject to much litigation,” he added.
Majority of Americans disapproved of how Trump is handling tariffs: poll
The majority of Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling his tariffs, according to a poll conducted before the Supreme Court’s ruling was published.
The survey was conducted Feb. 12-17, and the results were published Friday.
Republican Senator says Supreme Court’s ruling is ‘a firm reminder that presidential power is not unlimited’
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski called the Supreme Court’s ruling a “clear rebuke and a firm reminder that presidential power is not unlimited.”
“The Constitution explicitly grants Congress authority to regulate trade and impose tariffs, and even if Congress fails to do that, executive actions must be clearly based in law. This is a good ruling – and a good day – for the separation of powers and the balance of power in our republic,” she wrote on X.
Hakeem Jeffries says tariff decision is a ‘crushing defeat for the wannabe King’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries celebrated the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision which struck down Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
In a post on X, the New York Democrat called the ruling “a big victory for the American people” and “another crushing defeat for the wannabe King.”
GOP lawmaker throws cold water on prospect of tariff refunds
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, poured cold water on the prospect of tariff refunds, following the Supreme Court’s high-profile ruling.
“The US government is NOT your piggy bank,” she wrote on X in response to a claim that the federal government may owe $175 billion in tariff refunds.
“Any company or person seeking to get a big payday from this is a total fraud,” she added. “Decouple from CHINA and bring your industry back to the US. TOO MANY politicians and companies with deep, deep ties in CHINA.”
ANALYSIS: Trump just lost his global tariff sword. Will his boasts of being the ‘world’s greatest dealmaker’ now be put to the test?
The Supreme Court’s decision to gut President Donald Trump’s ability to impose unlimited tariffs on imports from any country will force him to revert to a traditional set of diplomatic tools that he has largely ignored since returning to power.
Gone are the “Liberation Day” tariffs he has touted as one of his major accomplishments since rolling out his “reciprocal tariff” policy at a shambolic Rose Garden event last April at which he displayed a poster showing he was putting taxes on imports from the uninhabited Heard and McDonald islands near Antarctica among other places.
Read Andrew Feinberg’s full analysis…
Source: independent.co.uk