During President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, he directly addressed a recent Supreme Court 6-3 ruling, which initially struck down his broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as unauthorized.
The president called it a “very unfortunate” and “disappointing” ruling with “unfortunate involvement.” However, Trump noted how the policy backfired on critics: countries and corporations prefer sticking to prior deals to avoid worse outcomes, and tariffs will persist via “fully approved and tested alternative legal statutes.”
No congressional action is needed, he said, and they could eventually replace parts of the income tax system while delivering economic and peace benefits. The moment went viral after four attending justices (including Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who voted against the tariffs) appeared stone-faced as Trump spoke feet away. Social media erupted with supportive clips mocking their reactions.
Starting off his comments, the president began, “But the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made. Right, Scott? Scott, knowing that the legal power that I, as president, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them, and therefore they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court’s unfortunate involvement.”
Building on this point, he added, “So despite the disappointing ruling, these powerful country saving it’s saving our country the kind of money we’re taking in peace, protecting many of the wars I settled was because of the threat of tariffs I wouldn’t have been able to settle them without.”
“Will remain in place under fully approved and tested alternative legal statutes, and they have been tested for a long time. They are a little more complex, but they are actually probably better, leading to a solution that will be even stronger than before, Trump added, warning the biased judges.
Concluding his comments, the President stated, “Congressional action will not be necessary. It is already time-tested and approved, and as time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system.”
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Reacting to the viral clip, one user stated, “🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just told the Supreme Court Justices to their FACES that their anti-tariff ruling BACKFIRED because his tariffs will remain in place,” adding, “John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett are trying very hard to keep a straight face 🤣.”
“LOVE Speaker Mike Johnson’s expression!! He looks like he’s going to burst out laughing!!🤣,” noted one comment. Another joked about one of the justices saying, “I love the way they zoomed in on her. She looked like she saw a ghost.😂😂😂😂.”
Another comment added, “SCOTUS: “You can’t do that.” Trump: “Watch me.” The 2026 season of government is getting spicy!” Likewise, one response stated, “The GOAT showed SCOTUS that he will and shall keep the Tariffs going LEGALLY to their faces 🤣😂🇺🇲”
Featured image from embedded video