By Victor Nava. Media: Nypost
President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out “backroom hustlers” and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as “horrific” and a threat to “Presidential Power.”
“Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP?’ What other reason could it be?” the president questioned in a 510-word long Truth Social post.
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“In this case, it is only because of my successful use of Tariffs that many Trillions of Dollars have already begun pouring into the U.S.A. from other Countries, money that, without these Tariffs, we would not be able to get,” Trump added. “It is the difference between having a rich, prosperous, and successful United States of America, and quite the opposite.”
“The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political! Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY.”
The Court of International Trade had ruled Wednesday that Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by imposing a 10% flat duty rate on dozens of countries around the world, as well as 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 20% tariffs on China in response to illegal fentanyl trafficking.
A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling.
“Backroom ‘hustlers’ must not be allowed to destroy our Nation!” Trump argued.
AP
“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,” he fumed. “In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly.”
“If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!”
The president also lashed out at the Federalist Society, an influential conservative legal group that helped shape the federal bench during Trump’s first term, and the organization’s co-chairman, Leonard Leo.
“I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,” Trump wrote. “I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.”
The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a public interest law firm reportedly backed by entities linked to Leo, is among the group’s suing the Trump administration to block the president’s tariff agenda.
“He openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court — I hope that is not so, and don’t believe it is!” Trump said of Leo. “In any event, Leo left The Federalist Society to do his own ‘thing.’”
Leo said he grateful to Trump despite his damning remarks when reached by The Post.
“I’m very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved,” he said in a statement. “There’s more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it’s ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump’s most important legacy.”
Stephen Yang
Trump blamed the Federalist Society for giving him “bad advice” on “numerous Judicial Nominations.”
“This is something that cannot be forgotten!” he declared.
One of the three trade court judges who ruled against the Trump administration was Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Trump in 2019.
Reif was a speaker at a 2011 Federalist Society event, but it is unclear if he was recommended to the president by the group.
The organization published an op-ed Thursday opposing Trump’s emergency tariffs, written by lawyers with the Pacific Legal Foundation – another legal nonprofit suing to stop the sweeping levies.
An editor’s note on the op-ed states: “The Federalist Society takes no positions on particular legal and public policy matters. Any expressions of opinion are those of the author.”
Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling “is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.”
“Radical Left Judges, together with some very bad people, are destroying America,” he seethed. “Under this decision, Trillions of Dollars would be lost by our Country, money that will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
“It would be the harshest financial ruling ever leveled on us as a Sovereign Nation.”
Trump concluded his post arguing that “The President of the United States must be allowed to protect America against those that are doing it Economic and Financial harm.”
“Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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