President Donald Trump announced that he will not be visiting the Supreme Court to watch opening arguments in his landmark tariffs case.
Trump floated a visit to the nation’s highest court last month, pointing to the case’s importance as justices will decide whether his “Liberation Day” tariffs were lawfully enacted.
In a lengthy statement on Sunday night, however, Trump said he will not be in the court on Wednesday when arguments begin because he doesn’t want to “distract from the importance of this Decision.”
He then spent the rest of the statement underscoring the case’s importance, saying it will be “one of the most important and consequential Decisions ever made” by the Supreme Court.
“If we win, we will be the Richest, Most Secure Country anywhere in the World, BY FAR. If we lose, our Country could be reduced to almost Third World status — Pray to God that that doesn’t happen!” Trump said.
The visit would have been a rare appearance at the Supreme Court for Trump, who has been there for the installation of two of his confirmed justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
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At the center of the case is Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, where he was able to bypass Congress in imposing sweeping tariffs on more than 90 countries.
After an initial pause, those tariffs took effect in August, though some countries have reached trade deals with the Trump administration, effectively lowering their rate.
