President Donald Trump ripped his first-term Supreme Court appointments, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, for ruling that his tariffs were unconstitutional.
During a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room on Friday, Trump was asked whether he regretted nominating Gorsuch and Barrett in light of the decision.
“I don’t want to say whether or not I regret. I think their decision was terrible. I think it’s an embarrassment to their families, if you want to know the truth. The two of them,” he said.
Trump had nothing but praise, on the other hand, for his first-term appointee, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote the main dissenting opinion.
The president described Kavanaugh’s “stock” as having gone up, before adding he was “proud” of him. Trump also singled out Justice Samuel Alito for praise. Alito also dissented.
Trump’s rebuke of Barrett and Gorsuch could make for an awkward interaction at next Tuesday’s State of the Union address. It’s tradition for the entire Supreme Court to attend, along with members of the Cabinet, lawmakers, and the senior military leadership.
“They are invited, barely,” said Trump when asked about the justice’s attendance. “Three are happily invited … Honestly, I couldn’t care less if they come.”
Trump’s roughly 45-minute press conference came hours after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.
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Trump had used the authority to levy his “Liberation Day” tariffs, in addition to his fentanyl-related duties against China, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump, during his press conference, was adamant that his tariffs under his national security emergency powers and other authorities remained in place, announcing an additional 10% global duty.