President Trump took to his social media platform on Wednesday to voice intense frustration with the Supreme Court, specifically targeting conservative justices he believes have failed to uphold their judicial principles. In a lengthy post, he claimed that “certain” conservative members of the high court have “gone weak, stupid, and bad,” arguing that they are fundamentally misaligned with the expectations set by their appointments.
The core of this disagreement stems from a 6-3 decision handed down in February, where a combination of liberal justices and some conservatives voted to invalidate the bulk of his sweeping tariff policies. The court determined that the administration had overstepped its legal boundaries by utilizing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in a way that exceeded executive authority. This ruling effectively dismantled a major pillar of his economic platform, creating a complex situation regarding the hundreds of millions of dollars in tariffs already collected.
In response to the ruling, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched a portal on Monday designed to handle refund requests for importers and brokers who paid those tariffs. Trump did not mince words regarding this development, describing the refund process as a “travesty.”
This latest escalation marks a significant turning point in Trump’s relationship with the judiciary, particularly regarding his own appointees
He previously suggested that it would be “brilliant” for American companies to decline these refunds, adding that he would personally take note of which entities chose not to seek their money back. “Handing over 159 Billion Dollars in Tariff refunds to people who have been Ripping Off our Country for years, is unexplainable,” he wrote on his social media platform. “One little sentence would have stoped this record setting payment from having to be made. It is a travesty!”
Much of the president’s recent ire has been directed at Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Despite being his own nominees, they joined Chief Justice John Roberts and the liberal wing of the court to vote against his tariff agenda. During a press briefing at the White House, Trump did not hold back, stating that their decision was “an embarrassment to their families.”
He went further, calling their actions “very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution.” When asked if these specific justices remained invited to the State of the Union, he remarked that they were “barely” invited, noting that he could care less if they chose to attend or not.
The president contrasted the behavior of these justices with the “Democrat Justices,” whom he claimed “stick together like glue, NEVER failing to wander from the warped and perverse policies, ideas, and cases put before them.” He argued that conservative justices have consistently handed victories to Democrats by failing to maintain similar cohesion. He emphasized that these particular “Republican” justices have completely violated what they supposedly stood for when they were appointed to the bench.
Beyond the tariff dispute, Trump is bracing for another potential defeat regarding his efforts to limit birthright citizenship. He sat in the courtroom earlier this month during oral arguments, where he observed the justices expressing significant skepticism toward his administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
He expressed little optimism about the outcome of that case. “If they rule against our Country on Birthright Citizenship, which they probably will, it will be even worse, if that’s possible,” he noted. “It will cost America massive amounts of money but, more importantly, it will cost America its DIGNITY!”
While his criticism of Gorsuch and Barrett has been sharp, Trump has been quick to distinguish them from other conservative members of the bench. He has heaped praise on Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh for their roles in the tariff case.
He specifically thanked Alito and Kavanaugh for their “strength and wisdom and love of our country,” expressing pride in their commitment to his vision. Regarding the future of the court, he spoke highly of Thomas and Alito, stating that they are “great justices” and expressing a hope that they remain in their positions for a long time.
Published: Apr 22, 2026 07:00 pm