Finally, some good news out of Washington. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent walked out of the Supreme Court on Wednesday grinning ear to ear after arguments over President Trump’s landmark tariffs — and he’s got reason to be. “Very, very optimistic,” he said, describing how the plaintiffs challenging Trump’s authority under a 1977 law “almost embarrassed themselves.” Translation: the left’s big legal attack on America-first trade policy just crashed and burned.
The case centers on whether Trump had the power to impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — a tool originally designed for national security emergencies. Trump, being the first president with the guts to actually use it to defend American workers, applied it to nearly every trading partner. And guess what? It worked. Manufacturing went up, jobs came back, and America finally started standing up to global freeloaders.
During the hearing, both conservative and liberal justices peppered lawyers with questions. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that tariffs are technically “taxes on Americans,” which traditionally falls under Congress’s authority. Fair point, but let’s not forget — Congress had decades to fix our trade mess and didn’t lift a finger. It took Trump’s bold action to get China’s attention and rebuild the American industrial base. Sometimes leadership means doing what Congress won’t.
When asked about what would happen if the Court struck down the tariffs — and how the government might return collected funds — Bessent didn’t blink: “We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it, but I’m confident we won’t have to.” That’s the kind of steady confidence that’s been missing in D.C. for years.
Bessent also reminded reporters that the tariff revenue — while significant — isn’t the whole story. As he explained, those funds are “coincident” and will naturally decline as domestic production ramps up. In other words, Trump’s tariffs aren’t about padding government coffers — they’re about rebuilding the American economy so we stop relying on cheap imports and foreign labor. The more we make here at home, the less we pay abroad. Sounds like common sense, doesn’t it?
Critics, of course, are desperate for a court loss to claim victory over Trump. But let’s be honest — the Supreme Court has stood by the former president on major issues before: border security, executive authority, and cleaning house in bloated federal agencies. This case shouldn’t be any different.
Bessent’s optimism reflects something bigger — a confidence that the America-first economic vision isn’t going anywhere. The tariffs didn’t just protect U.S. industries; they redefined what it means to fight for working Americans.
If the Court rules in Trump’s favor — and it likely will — it’ll be another reminder that strong leadership, not political posturing, drives real results. One thing’s for sure: Trump’s tariffs have already reshaped global trade, and no courtroom in Washington is going to roll that back.
