State of the Union address: Trump calls Supreme Court ruling striking down tariffs ‘unfortunate’ in the presence of justices

During the State of the Union address, President Donald Trump described last week’s US Supreme Court decision striking down his global tariff program as “unfortunate”. Speaking directly in front of the justices involved, Trump said, “Just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court. It just came down, very unfortunate ruling.”

Supreme Court’s ruling

The February 20, 2026, ruling marked a major legal setback for Trump, as the Supreme Court invalidated a significant portion of his global tariff initiative, declaring it exceeded presidential authority. Chief Justice John Roberts authored the 6–3 opinion. Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, and Roberts joined the majority, while Brett Kavanaugh sided with the dissent.


The tariffs, imposed under an emergency declaration, were intended to generate revenue and support domestic manufacturing.

Trump’s remarks in front of the justices

During the State of the Union, Trump spoke about the ruling in the presence of four Supreme Court justices. Trump personally shook hands with Justice Barrett upon entering the chamber, but it remained unclear whether he would directly reference her vote during his speech.

In recent days, Trump had publicly criticized justices he appointed, including Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, for siding with the majority. When asked about the justices’ attendance, Trump remarked, “Honestly, I couldn’t care less if they come,” signaling that while he considered the ruling significant, it would not dominate his State of the Union address.

Trump’s tariff program had been a cornerstone of his trade and economic strategy. By targeting imports, the president aimed to protect US manufacturing and increase federal revenue. However, experts argued that the tariffs were insufficient to address budget deficits or to generate substantial domestic job growth.

With the Supreme Court striking down the tariffs, Trump faces a political and economic challenge, as he must defend his trade policies while maintaining the narrative of a “golden age of America.”