At a hastily called news conference Friday, President Trump assailed the Supreme Court justices who ruled that he had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner, calling them “fools and lap dogs.”
Reading from prepared remarks, Mr. Trump went after the justices, including some who are known as conservatives or who Mr. Trump appointed, accusing them of being disloyal to the Constitution and “unpatriotic.” The 6-3 decision against the Trump administration was written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was appointed by President George W. Bush.
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” the president said.
Mr. Trump appointed two of the justices who sided against him, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.
“They’re just being fools and lap dogs” for political opponents Mr. Trump said, adding: “They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution. It’s my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think.”
Later, of Justice Gorsuch and Barrett, he said: “I think it’s an embarrassment to their families, the two of them.”
The comments were revealing about how Mr. Trump views Supreme Court justices, not as independent legal thinkers appointed for their expertise or as a constitutional check on his administration, but as appointees who should be loyal to him.
Of the justices who sided with his administration, the president lavished praise on them.
“I’m so proud of him,” Mr. Trump says of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, whom he referred to as a “genius.”
He also went after the members of the court who were appointed by Democratic presidents.
“I can assure you, the Democrats on the court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote no,” Mr. Trump said of the justices who ruled against him, adding: “They also are a frankly, a disgrace to our nation, those justices. They’re an automatic no, no matter how good a case you have. No, you can’t knock their loyalty. It’s one thing you can do with some of our people.”
Mr. Trump said the three justices who sided with his administration on tariffs are “happily invited” to his State of the Union address next week.
The others?
“They’re barely invited,” he said. “Honestly, I couldn’t care less if they come.”
Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.
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