President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court on Friday, April 24, for its February decision that struck down broad tariffs he imposed last year, saying the ruling could force the government to refund about $159 billion to importers.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the court’s move hands money to “people and companies that have taken advantage of our Country for decades.”
He said the justices could have added a single short phrase to their opinion that would have allowed the government to keep the tariff money already collected.
“All they had to do was one little half sentence, ‘that the United States does not have to pay back monies that were already paid’, and our Country would be 159 Billion Dollars richer,” Trump wrote. “That’s more than most Countries are worth!”
Supreme Court ruling angers Trump
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on February 20 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, does not grant the president authority to impose tariffs.
The 1977 law allows the president to address foreign threats during a national emergency, but the court said it does not authorize him to impose tariffs on imports. The Constitution gives Congress the power to lay tariffs.
Trump used IEEPA, starting in early 2025, to impose new duties on goods from many countries. He called the measures “reciprocal” tariffs to fight trade deficits and “fentanyl” tariffs aimed at stopping drugs from Mexico, Canada, and China.
Customs and Border Protection collected roughly $166 billion in duties under those orders before the court stepped in, according to government figures.
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The ruling stopped new collections under IEEPA. It also opened the way for importers to seek a refund, plus interest in many cases.
Last week, the government launched an online portal where firms can file refund claims. Payments could start going out in the coming months.
Trump said the court missed an easy chance to protect the collected revenue. He pointed to the practical problem of refunds and argued that a single clarifying line in the opinion would have saved taxpayers the huge payout.
“Handing over 159 Billion Dollars in Tariff refunds to people who have been Ripping Off our Country for years, is unexplainable,” he added. “One little sentence would have stopped this record-setting payment from having to be made. It is a travesty!”
The decision split the court
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. He said Congress never clearly gave the president authority to raise revenue through tariffs under IEEPA. Three justices dissented.
The case started when importers and some states sued, arguing the tariffs were illegal. Lower courts had already blocked parts of the policy before the Supreme Court took it up on an expedited schedule.
Since the ruling, the Trump administration ended the IEEPA-based tariffs. They say they are now working on other ways to address trade issues, perhaps through new legislation or different legal authorities.
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Importers will need to file claims with proof of payment, and the refund process is expected to take time.
Government estimates for the total payback have ranged from about $159 billion to $182 billion, depending on how interest and late claims are calculated.
Trump has long pushed tariffs as a tool to protect American workers and bring in revenue. He often says other countries have taken advantage of the United States in trade for years.
The court’s decision limits one path he used to act quickly without waiting for Congress.
The White House has not released an official comment on Trump’s latest remarks.
