US President Donald Trump emerged from a quiet Labour Day weekend Tuesday, declaring that his administration will urgently appeal to the Supreme Court to defend his contested tariffs, warning that a reversal could force billions in refunds to foreign nations. He also dismissed health rumours as “fake news” and played down China’s coming military parade.
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In a press briefing at the White House, Trump stressed the need for an expedited Supreme Court ruling. “We’re going to be going to the Supreme Court, we think tomorrow, because we need an early decision,” he told reporters.
Trump added that if the higher court makes “the wrong decision, it will be devastation for our country” as “we would have to give trillions and trillions of dollars back to countries that have been ripping us off for the last 35 years”. For the 2025 fiscal year, so far tariffs have generated some $142 billion in federal revenue, according to US Treasury Department data.
“Without the tariffs, we wouldn’t have a chance, because we wouldn’t be able to protect those investments of the companies coming in. So if you took away tariffs, we could end up being a third world country,” he argued.
The tariffs, implemented in two waves, were justified by the administration as necessary to address national emergencies, including trade deficits and fentanyl trafficking.
Trump further extends tariff truce with China for 90 days
Trump further extends tariff truce with China for 90 days
In April, Trump imposed “reciprocal” tariffs of up to 50 per cent on countries with trade surpluses with the US, alongside a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most other imports. In February, he announced 20 per cent tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, citing their alleged failure to curb illegal drug flows and migration.
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