Trump Warns US Is “Screwed” Ahead of Supreme Court Ruling on Tariff Powers

US President Donald Trump has expressed sharp concern ahead of an imminent Supreme Court ruling that could significantly limit his authority to impose sweeping tariffs, warning that an adverse verdict would leave the United States facing an unprecedented financial and administrative crisis.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump cautioned that if the Supreme Court of the United States rules that he exceeded his legal authority, the federal government may be forced to refund massive sums already collected through tariffs. According to Trump, such repayments could run into hundreds of billions of dollars and potentially stretch into trillions once indirect economic impacts are factored in.

Trump described the scenario as a “complete mess,” arguing that the logistics of identifying who should be refunded, how much, and over what time period would overwhelm federal agencies. He suggested that the scale of repayments would make it nearly impossible for the government to act swiftly or accurately, potentially dragging the issue out for years.

The President has increasingly framed the tariff dispute as a matter of national security. He warned that undoing tariffs imposed under emergency powers would undermine the government’s ability to respond decisively to trade threats and economic coercion from foreign rivals. Trump insisted that businesses and countries had already reshaped investment decisions to avoid the tariffs, building factories, plants, and supply chains that would complicate any rollback.

At the heart of the case is Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law traditionally used to impose sanctions during national emergencies. Trump relied on the statute to justify a broad range of tariffs, arguing that trade imbalances and foreign economic practices constituted a national security threat.

However, several lower courts have already ruled that the use of IEEPA to impose such tariffs exceeded presidential authority, setting the stage for the Supreme Court to weigh in. If the court upholds those rulings, it could sharply curtail the executive branch’s ability to unilaterally impose trade restrictions without congressional approval.

Trump has repeatedly warned that such an outcome would expose the US government to enormous financial liabilities. Beyond direct refunds to importers, he argued that companies that invested heavily to bypass tariffs could seek compensation, further inflating the cost to taxpayers.

Legal experts note that the case could redefine the balance of power between Congress and the presidency on trade policy, with implications extending well beyond the current administration. Markets are also watching closely, as a ruling against the government could trigger volatility across sectors affected by tariffs.

While a decision could come as early as Wednesday, the Supreme Court has not indicated a specific timeline. Regardless of the outcome, the ruling is expected to have lasting consequences for US trade policy, executive authority, and the federal government’s exposure to financial claims tied to past tariff collections.