It seems the “stable genius” is feeling a little unstable this week.
US President Donald Trump is clearly sweating through his suit over an impending Supreme Court decision regarding his beloved tariffs.
In a move that screams “guilty conscience,” Trump has taken to social media to warn everyone that it would be a “complete mess” if the court rules against him.
Essentially, he is terrified that he might actually have to follow the rules.
His post on Monday on Truth Social made it painfully clear just how much he is dreading this ruling.
He is worried about the “challenges” of giving money back to the people he took it from.
According to the man himself, “It would take many years to figure out what number we are talking about and even, who, when, and where, to pay.”
Translation: I spent the money and I don’t want to do the math to give it back.
Caps Lock Diplomacy
The drama didn’t stop there.
If the Supreme Court does not uphold his tariffs, the President offered a very nuanced legal opinion.
“WE’RE SCREWED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Nothing says presidential dignity quite like typing in all caps on your own social media platform.
The tariffs in question include sweeping levies he announced last April.
They are being challenged by a group of US states and small businesses who actually care about the law.
They contend that the president exceeded his authority in imposing these extra taxes on goods coming into the country.
And if the Trump administration loses, they might have to refund billions of dollars.
It turns out you can’t just tax people because you feel like it.
The Billion Dollar “Oopsy”
Let’s look at the receipts.
Tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have brought in more than $130bn, according to the most recent data.
That is more than half of all tariff revenue.
However, it is just a tiny fraction of the overall revenue collected by the government.
Yet, Trump wants us to believe that refunds would be “almost impossible for our Country to pay.”
He is already preparing his excuses for why the check is in the mail.
“Anybody who says that it can be quickly and easily done would be making a false, inaccurate, or totally misunderstood answer to this very large and complex question,” he added.
It is always “complex” when he has to face consequences.
Even His Friends Are Confused
Here is the kicker.
Before this case even landed at the Supreme Court, two lower courts found that Trump did not have the authority to impose global tariffs.
Now businesses are anxiously awaiting a decision from America’s top court.
This is the same court that has a 6-3 conservative majority.
But even they seem tired of the nonsense.
At a hearing in November, the majority of the justices expressed doubts over the White House’s justification.
This includes several conservatives.
They questioned the claim that these duties are necessary to restore America’s manufacturing base and fix its trade imbalance.
Trump has warned that a loss would tie his hands in trade negotiations.
He claims the US would be “weakened” and in a “financial mess” for many years to come.
He is basically threatening us with a bad time if he doesn’t get his way.
The Constitution vs. The Donald
Lawyers for the challenging states point out a fun fact about the IEEPA.
This 1977 law the Trump administration invoked never actually mentions the word “tariffs.”
They contend that only Congress can establish taxes under the US Constitution.
Imagine that.
Opponents have also challenged whether the issues cited by the White House, like the trade deficit, actually represent emergencies.
But Trump has an ally in the chaos.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by Trump, did note that any refund process could become a “complete mess.”
That is language Trump was happy to echo.
The White House has said officials will find alternative avenues if the court does not rule in its favour.
That could include using existing legislation to put tariffs of up to 15% in place for 150 days.
They are scrambling for loopholes.
Meanwhile, some businesses have told the BBC that refunds wouldn’t even fix the damage.
They said the payments would not make up for the disruption caused by the Trump administration’s trade policies.
But sure, let’s worry about how hard it is for the government to write a check.
