Trump escalates criticism of Supreme Court, signals new tariff moves

US President Donald Trump on Monday intensified his criticism of the Supreme Court of the United States after it struck down his sweeping tariff programme, pledging to pursue alternative trade powers and licensing measures without outlining specifics.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the ruling as “ridiculous, dumb, and divisive worldwide,” arguing that while the court blocked certain tariffs imposed under an economic emergency law, other duties remain available for use.

“The court has also approved all other tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the tariffs as initially used,” he wrote.

The remarks follow the court’s decision last week that Trump exceeded his presidential authority in rolling out a series of higher tariff rates. The opinion was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts and reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in checking executive power.

On Saturday, Trump said he would raise a temporary tariff on imports from 10 percent to 15 percent, the maximum allowed under the relevant statute, a day after the ruling.

He also floated the idea of using licensing mechanisms to pressure trading partners, questioning why the United States could not charge licence fees despite the court’s reasoning. “All licences are charge fees — why can’t the United States do so?” he wrote.

Financial markets reacted nervously. Wall Street futures and the dollar slipped amid uncertainty over US trade policy, while oil prices initially fell on concerns about global growth and fuel demand before stabilising on news of planned US-Iran talks.

The decision and Trump’s response have reverberated through existing trade negotiations. China has urged Washington to roll back tariff measures, the European Union is preparing to freeze its agreement, and India has delayed planned discussions.

Trump also criticised the justices who ruled against him, including two he appointed during his first term. He expressed concern that the court could soon reject his administration’s effort to restrict birthright citizenship in a separate pending case.