Donald Trump calls the Supreme Court "fools and lackeys"

Ironically, what Donald Trump needs are precisely fools and lackeys.

Even after the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump still insists he can do whatever he wants.

President Trump's angry response on Friday to the Supreme Court's tariff ruling highlighted his insistence that he should be granted broad powers to advance his agenda as he sees fit.

After the court ruled that his actions in imposing a series of tariffs over the past year exceeded his authority, Mr. Trump lashed out at the judges who ruled against him, calling them "fools and lackeys," and suggested they were corrupted by unspecified foreign influence and "lowlifes."

"I am ashamed of some members of the Supreme Court, and I am deeply ashamed that they lack the courage to do what is right for our country," the President said, hinting that the two justices he nominated in his first term, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, "brought shame upon their families" for siding with the majority against him.

The Trump administration has consistently criticized and sometimes openly defied lower court rulings it dislikes. On Friday, Trump launched a sharp personal attack on the Supreme Court, seemingly aiming to weaken the justices' constraints on his power and highlighting his lack of respect for the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump showed no signs of defying the court's ruling, instead quickly pivoting to utilize other, more limited mechanisms to impose new tariffs, which he can still use.

He stated he would invoke trade authority known as "Section 122" to impose a 10% tariff on all goods starting Tuesday. He also said he would use another authority—"Section 301"—to launch investigations into unfair trade practices, which could lead to additional tariffs.

The President's remarks on Friday revealed his view of Supreme Court justices: not as independent legal thinkers appointed for their expertise, nor as a constitutional check on his administration, but as appointed officials who should be loyal to him.

Previously, the court had shown great deference to Trump, repeatedly allowing policies challenged in court to remain in effect while litigation proceeded. Friday marked the first time the court issued a final ruling on the legality of a Trump policy.

"In front of the whole world, this is the most shocking display yet of the President's utter disrespect for the Constitution and contempt for the U.S. Supreme Court," said retired conservative federal appeals court judge J. Michael Luttig in an interview.

The President lashed out at the justices who ruled against him while lavishing praise on those who sided with his administration.

"I am very proud of him," Mr. Trump said of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, whom he called a "genius."

Mr. Trump said the three justices who ruled in his favor were "honored to be invited" to his State of the Union address next week.

The others?

"They were barely invited," he said. "Honestly, I don't care if they come or not."

Legal experts said Trump's broadside against the court was stunning.

"In my career, I have never seen a president personally attack judges like this," said Jeremy Fogel, a retired federal judge and former executive director of the Federal Judicial Center. "Presidents of both parties have been unhappy with major decisions. That's not uncommon, and sometimes they express considerable disappointment with court rulings, but in my experience, this kind of personal attack is unprecedented."