Sen. Kennedy Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs

Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana voiced his positive outlook regarding the recent Supreme Court decision on tariffs, suggesting that the “grizzly” in the Oval Office should interpret it as a win.

On Friday, the Supreme Court reached a 6-3 verdict that limited President Donald Trump’s tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Despite this legal challenge, Kennedy believes that Trump’s tariffs might still pave the way for favorable trade agreements and stimulate the economy.

“Stevie Wonder may have seen this decision coming,” Kennedy remarked during an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend.” This was his take on the unexpected ruling.

Democrats celebrated the decision, arguing that tariffs would lead to increased prices for regular Americans. Kennedy, however, raised questions about the customs revenue that had already been accumulated. “My Democratic colleagues are saying, ‘Oh, give it back, give it back,'” he noted.

He cautioned, “My Democratic Party peeps better be careful with their demands, because if they give $300 billion worth of tariffs back to American business, this economy will collapse.” He added that the midterm elections are looming and that the economic implications are significant.

In January, customs revenue reached $30.4 billion, which marked a 275% increase compared to the same month the previous year. The White House indicated that this revenue could help fund domestic initiatives and aid in reducing national debt.

Kennedy commented on Trump’s approach, stating, “The president wasn’t just gritting his teeth praising trade and customs officials; he used that and he used that to negotiate trade deals.” Tariffs have been a central theme in the second Trump administration, with the president previously declaring a “national emergency” over the trade deficit, asserting that the IEEPA gave him extensive customs powers.

“He believes he is a bear. And he thinks whether you are a bear or not,” Kennedy remarked about Trump’s assertive trade tactics.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling, President Trump issued a new order on Friday, implementing a global 10% tariff using another legal framework. “It was a great honor to sign the 10% tariffs worldwide from the Oval Office, effective almost immediately,” Trump shared on Truth Social.