Rep. Ted Lieu sharply criticized President Donald Trump following the Supreme Court’s decision Friday striking down the bulk of his tariffs, calling the president “a disgrace for acting like a wannabe dictator.”
In a post, Lieu directed a message to the White House, writing:
Dear @WhiteHouse: Cry harder. The Supreme Court slapped down Trump’s massive tax increase that hurt so many Americans. Trump is a disgrace for acting like a wannabe dictator.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 20, 2026
You must pay back to all the American businesses the amount of the illegal tariffs that Trump imposed. https://t.co/WSrQDkym1J
“Cry harder. The Supreme Court slapped down Trump’s massive tax increase that hurt so many Americans. Trump is a disgrace for acting like a wannabe dictator. You must pay back to all the American businesses the amount of the illegal tariffs that Trump imposed.”
The Supreme Court ruling invalidated Trump’s attempt to impose tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1970s-era law allowing the president to regulate imports in response to national emergencies.
As of January 2026, the federal government had collected $289 billion in revenue from Trump’s tariff policies, much of which now faces potential refund claims from affected businesses. While some sector-specific tariffs remain in effect under separate legal authorities, the ruling marked a significant defeat for the administration, which had previously enjoyed a string of victories in emergency appeals before the conservative-majority Supreme Court.
Lieu’s comments reflect broader Democratic concerns about executive overreach and the economic impact of Trump’s trade policies. By calling for repayment of the illegal tariffs, he highlighted the financial strain imposed on American businesses and consumers and underscored the constitutional principle that the president cannot unilaterally impose such sweeping economic measures.
