President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court ahead of April 1, 2026, oral arguments on his executive order to end birthright citizenship, calling justices “incompetent” and “dumb” for past rulings like his struck-down 2025 tariffs.
Tariff Ruling Backlash
In early 2026, the Court ruled 6-3 against Trump’s global emergency tariffs (around 10% on most imports), finding he exceeded authority under a 1970s statute not intended for tariffs. Trump berated Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Barrett, and Justice Gorsuch—joining liberals—for the “embarrassment,” posting “supreme court” in lowercase and warning of economic ruin during his February State of the Union address, with justices present.
Birthright Citizenship Challenge
Trump’s January 20, 2025, order seeks to deny automatic citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented or temporary-visa parents, reinterpreting the 14th Amendment’s clause: “All persons born… in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens.” He argues it incentivizes illegal immigration, especially “rich people from China” paying for births here, not originally for “BABIES OF SLAVES.” Trump predicts another loss, praising only Justices Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Alito as the “Great Three.”
Broader Context
Trump’s attacks echo inauguration-day order issuance and DOJ briefs blaming justices for potential crises. Outcome could redefine citizenship for millions, upending 150+ years of precedent.
