Trump's Attack on the Supreme Court Was Unhinged Even for Him

"In a press conference on Friday, President Donald Trump brought down the curtain on his bold "Liberation Day" tariffs agenda in much the same way he ushered it in-with a rolling litany of grievances against foreign economies allegedly ripping off the United States, a misleading characterization of trade deficits as zero-sum attacks on American prosperity, and fantasy-driven word-pictures of "strong and powerful" US business owners miraculously restored to their entrepreneurial prime by the sheer force of Trump's presidential will."

"The only notable addition to this exercise in magical economic thinking was Trump's attack on the Supreme Court, which had earlier gutted his tariff regime in a 6-3 ruling joined by, among others, two of Trump's appointees to the court, Neal Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. "I'm ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed of them for not having the courage to do what's right for our country," Trump said, in an ominous use of the rhetoric he deployed against his first-term vice president, Mike Pence, on January 6, 2021."

"After offering a pro forma attack on Democrats as a congeries of villains who are "against anything that makes America strong, healthy, and great again," including rank perfidies "having to do with voting," Trump then took his court-bashing to an even wilder level."

President Donald Trump ended his "Liberation Day" tariffs agenda with repeated grievances about foreign economies and a portrayal of trade deficits as zero-sum attacks on American prosperity. He presented idealized images of "strong and powerful" US business owners restored by presidential action. The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling that gutted his tariff regime prompted a direct attack on justices, including a public statement of shame. He revived claims of a stolen 2020 election and linked those claims to conspiracies aimed at denying him expansive executive power. He framed Democrats as opposed to making America strong and alleged foreign influence on the court.

Read at The Nation