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U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will not attend the Supreme Court’s upcoming oral arguments concerning the legality of his global tariffs, despite expressing a strong desire to be present. The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, will address one of the most significant legal challenges to Trump’s use of executive power in trade policy.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after returning from Florida, Trump said his attendance could create unnecessary distraction. “I wanted to go so badly,” he stated. “But I don’t want to deflect from the importance of that decision. It’s not about me — it’s about our country.”
The Supreme Court will review the Justice Department’s appeal against a lower court ruling that found Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The tariffs, targeting a wide range of imported goods, have been challenged by multiple U.S. businesses and 12 states arguing they have hurt domestic industries and strained global trade relations.
Trump defended his tariffs as essential for national security and fair trade, claiming they counter decades of unfair duties imposed on U.S. exports. “If we don’t have tariffs, we don’t have national security,” he said, emphasizing that foreign nations, including China, had long taken advantage of the United States.
He credited his tariff policies for boosting federal revenues and fueling record highs in U.S. stock markets. “Tariffs have brought us tremendous national security,” Trump added. “We were being abused by other countries for years — not anymore.”
The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing could significantly shape future U.S. trade policy and the scope of presidential power in imposing economic measures.
