Trump, JD Vance vilify ‘lawless’ Supreme Court justices over tariff ruling
Al Jazeera
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have sharply criticized the US Supreme Court justices over their ruling on trade tariffs, marking an unusual direct rebuke of the judiciary by the executive branch. In a 45-minute address to media, Trump personally attacked Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, calling them an “embarrassment to their families” and accusing them of lacking courage in upholding his signature tariff policy. He also claimed that foreign interests had swayed the court, though no evidence was provided. Meanwhile, Vice President Vance criticized the justices for what he termed as "lawlessness," arguing that the court’s decision undermines Congress’s intent to grant the president authority over imports.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Trump’s tariffs, with six justices finding them illegal under US law. In his remarks, Trump praised the three dissenting justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh—for their “strength and wisdom.” This rare direct criticism of the court comes as six of its nine members were appointed by Trump during his presidency, yet they ruled against his policy. The decision has sparked tensions between the
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/21/2026