Trump's rhetoric on tariffs ramps up pressure on Supreme Court

President Donald Trump's strategy to persuade the Supreme Court to uphold his sweeping tariffs is not subtle.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's strategy to persuade the Supreme Court to uphold his sweeping tariffs is not subtle.

To some opponents of his tariffs, Trump's frequent use of apocalyptic rhetoric about his signature policy ahead of the Nov. 5 oral argument is an obvious attempt to influence the court by focusing on the potential consequences of a ruling against him.

“I will tell you that’s one of the most important cases in the history of our country because if we don’t win that case, we will be a weakened, troubled, financial mess for many, many years to come,” Trump said at the White House on Oct. 15, in just one example of his repeated comments on the subject.

Trump, who has a long history of harshly criticizing judges who rule against him, has even suggested he might attend the Supreme Court in person for the oral argument Nov. 5. There is no official record of any sitting president ever attending a Supreme Court argument, according to the court and the nonprofit Supreme Court Historical Society.

The White House did not respond to a request seeking comment about Trump’s remarks, whether he intends to influence the court or if he will attend the oral argument.