NEW: Trump Hints At ‘Foreign Influence’ Over SCOTUS After Tariff Ruling: ‘You’re Gonna Discover Out’
President Donald Trump on Friday escalated his criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court following its decision to strike down most of his sweeping global tariffs, suggesting that “foreign interests” may have influenced the justices who ruled against him.
The comments came just hours after the high court, in a 6–3 ruling, determined that Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing broad import duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that the statute does not grant a president the power to levy tariffs, a responsibility the Constitution assigns to Congress.
During a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room, Trump reacted with visible frustration, reserving particular criticism for Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, both of whom he appointed during his first term and who joined the majority.
Calling their votes “a disgrace to our nation,” Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of certain members of the court. He then went a step further, hinting that outside forces may have swayed the outcome.
“You’ve mentioned multiple times foreign influence over the Supreme Court, do you have evidence of that? Will you investigate that?” a reporter asked.
“You’re going to find out!” Trump replied.
WATCH:
🚨 HOLY CRAP. President Trump hints he is about to expose the exact foreign influences who swayed SCOTUS’ opinion on tariffs
REPORTER: Foreign influence…do you have evidence of that? Will you investigate that?
TRUMP: You’re going to find out.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 20, 2026
Trump also lashed out at those who backed the legal challenge to his tariff authority, referring to them as “sleaze-bags” and accusing them of siding with foreign competitors over American workers. He singled out Leonard Leo, a longtime legal activist who advised Trump on Supreme Court nominations during his first term.
Leo, through nonprofit networks he supports, helped fund the lawsuit challenging the president’s use of emergency powers to impose the tariffs. Trump described Leo as a bad person, marking a sharp break from their past alliance.
The legal challenge centered on Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping import duties on a wide range of foreign goods. The Supreme Court ruled that while the law allows a president to regulate certain economic transactions during a declared national emergency, it does not authorize the imposition of tariffs.
Despite the setback, Trump made clear that he has no intention of abandoning his trade agenda.
“We will be able to take in more money, because there’s always doubt,” Trump said.
WATCH:
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just ERUPTED on the China and foreign-aligned parties who brought his tariffs to SCOTUS
Trump called them “SLEAZEBAGS,” including Leonard Leo, who Trump recently called “a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America”
Leo was one of the… pic.twitter.com/eVkAGP7G2Z
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 20, 2026
During the briefing, he announced plans to pivot to alternative statutory authorities, including Section 122 of federal trade law, which permits temporary tariffs under certain conditions. He also signaled that his administration would initiate new Section 301 investigations into what he described as unfair trade practices by foreign nations.
The president argued that the court’s ruling would not meaningfully limit his ability to reshape U.S. trade policy, asserting that other legal pathways could provide even greater flexibility in setting tariffs.
For now, the Supreme Court’s decision stands as a significant check on presidential trade authority under emergency powers. But if Trump’s remarks are any indication, the political and legal battle over tariffs—and the forces behind them—is far from over.