BREAKING NEWS: Trump’s State of the Union Confrontation
President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, directly criticizing the Supreme Court justices seated before him over their recent ruling against his tariff plan .
The confrontation came just four days after the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to strike down one of Trump’s most touted policies of his second term: sweeping import tariffs imposed through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) .
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address |
| Date | February 24, 2026 |
| Location | U.S. Capitol, House Chamber |
| Supreme Court Attendance | Only 4 of 9 justices present |
| Justices Present | Chief Justice John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett |
| Justices Absent | Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson |
| Main Issue | Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling striking down Trump’s tariff plan |
Who Attended vs. Who Skipped
Here is list of Present Justices (4 Justices)
Chief Justice John Roberts
Associate Justice Elena Kagan
Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Here is list of Absent Justies (5 Justices)
Associate Justice Samuel Alito (Republican appointee)
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas (Republican appointee)
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch (Republican appointee)
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor (Democrat appointee)
Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (Democrat appointee)
What Trump Said — VERIFIED QUOTES
During his address, with the four present justices sitting in the front row, Trump said:
“It was an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, a very unfortunate ruling.”
The remarks were a direct reference to the February 20, 2026 Supreme Court decision that struck down his tariff plan .
Background: The Tariff Ruling Explained
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Ruling Date | February 20, 2026 |
| Vote | 6-3 against Trump’s tariff plan |
| What Was Struck Down | Trump’s April 2, 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs — 10% baseline duty on most imports |
| Legal Basis Challenged | Use of International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) |
| Court’s Finding | President exceeded his authority under IEEPA |
| Dissenting Justices | Kavanaugh, Alito, Thomas |
Trump’s Previous Comments on the Ruling
February 20, 2026 — Day of Ruling
The morning the SCOTUS ruling was announced, Trump was hosting a breakfast with governors. According to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, inside the closed-door meeting, Trump called the ruling a “disgrace” and assured governors “he has a backup plan” .
Later that day, Trump addressed the press:
“I am absolutely ashamed of certain members of the court for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country. When you read the dissenting opinions, there’s no way that anyone can argue against them.”
He praised dissenting justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas but called those who voted for the majority “a disgrace to our nation” .
Sharpest Insults for Trump Appointees
Trump reserved his harshest criticism for the two justices he appointed who voted against his tariffs:
“It’s my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests. It’s almost like [the decision was] written by not very smart people.”
He called Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch — his own appointees who voted with the majority — “an embarrassment to their families” .
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2, 2025 | Trump announces “Liberation Day” tariffs — 10% baseline duty on most imports |
| 2025 | Multiple countries retaliate; stock market dips |
| February 20, 2026 | Supreme Court rules 6-3: Trump exceeded authority under IEEPA |
| February 20, 2026 | Trump calls ruling “disgrace” at governors breakfast; later calls dissenting justices “courageous” |
| February 24, 2026 | State of the Union address — Trump criticizes ruling with justices present; 5 justices skip |
What Happens Next
Trump indicated during his SOTU address that he plans to keep tariffs in place through other means:
“Almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made, knowing that the legal power that I have as president could be far worse for them. Congressional action will not be necessary… We finally have a president who puts America first.”
