US in trouble? Trump flags financial risks if SC strikes down tariffs; trillions in repayments at stake

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Washington could face severe financial repercussions if the Supreme Court rules his sweeping global tariffs illegal. The warning comes as the country’s top court prepares to hear the high-stakes case this week.In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, we're scre***!”The nation's apex body is expected to issue rulings as early as January 14, though it does not announce in advance which cases will be decided. The challenge to Trump’s tariffs has emerged as a major test of presidential authority and could have wide-ranging implications for the US and global economy.Trump’s warning comes amid legal scrutiny of tariffs imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he invoked by declaring a national emergency over the US trade deficit. During oral arguments in November, a majority of judges had expressed skepticism about whether the law allows a president to impose broad global tariffs without congressional approval.In his Truth Social post, Trump said the financial exposure would go far beyond tariff revenues already collected.

He argued that if the court rules against the government, the US could be forced to repay “many Hundreds of Billions of Dollars” in tariff revenue, along with additional claims tied to private investments made to avoid the levies.

“The actual numbers that we would have to pay back if, for any reason, the Supreme Court were to rule against the United States of America on Tariffs, would be many Hundreds of Billions of Dollars and that doesn’t include the amount of “payback” that Countries and Companies would require for the Investments they are making on building Plants, Factories, and Equipment, for the purpose of being able to avoid the payment of Tariffs.

” Trump wrote.“When these Investments are added, we are talking about Trillions of Dollars! It would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay,” Trump further wrote. He rejected suggestions that refunds could be handled quickly, saying the process would be complex and drawn out. “Anybody who says that it can be quickly and easily done would be making a false, inaccurate, or totally misunderstood answer to this very large and complex question.

It may not be possible but, if it were, it would be Dollars that would be so large that it would take many years to figure out what number we are talking about and even, who, when, and where, to pay,” his post read. According to government data, the federal government collected roughly $200 billion more in tariff revenue in 2025 as a result of Trump’s import duties. Tariffs are paid by companies when they bring goods into the US.

More than half of that revenue has come from tariffs imposed under IEEPA.Trump has repeatedly argued that the tariffs strengthened US manufacturing and boosted investment. Lower courts have already ruled against the administration. A federal appeals court in August upheld a finding that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing global tariffs under emergency powers. The case now before the Supreme Court was brought by a group of businesses and 12 US states, most of them governed by Democrats, who argue that only Congress has the constitutional power to impose taxes and that IEEPA does not mention tariffs.Opponents also dispute whether trade deficits qualify as a national emergency. At the November hearing, Justice Amy Coney Barrett observed that any refund process could become a “complete mess,” a phrase Trump later echoed.Trump has said he is preparing a “Game 2 plan” to pursue his tariff agenda if the court rules against him, though he has acknowledged that alternative legal routes would be slower, according to USA Today. A ruling against the tariffs would deal a major blow to one of the centrepieces of his domestic and trade policy and could reshape US relations with key trading partners, including the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the UK and India.