President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday he’s using “a more cumbersome way” to impose the same tariffs the Supreme Court struck down as illegal earlier this year, handing ammunition to lawyers already suing to block his latest trade actions.
“It’s a shame that I have to go a harder way for the tariffs because the Supreme Court, in a very close decision, you know, ruled against me,” Trump told Fox News. “Now, I have other ways of doing the same thing, but it’s a more cumbersome, you know, way of doing it.”
Legal Challenge Says Different Law, Same Result
Trump’s remarks came four days after the Liberty Justice Center filed a federal lawsuit arguing his administration is using different legal statutes as cover to resurrect the global tariff program courts already rejected. The nonprofit says swapping one law for another doesn’t make an unconstitutional tariff constitutional.
“Changing the statute doesn’t change the law — and changing the stated rationale doesn’t make an unlawful tariff lawful,” said Sara Albrecht, Liberty Justice Center’s chairman and CEO. “The president’s own words indicate that these tariffs are simply another, more cumbersome way of achieving the same result after the Supreme Court ruled against him.”
What This Means for American Consumers
The legal battle matters for every American household. Tariffs function as taxes on imported goods, and those costs get passed directly to consumers through higher prices at checkout. When Trump’s previous tariffs were in effect, studies found American families paid an estimated $831 more per year on everyday items.
The Supreme Court’s earlier ruling against Trump’s tariff authority briefly lifted that burden. If the new tariffs survive legal challenge despite using different statutory language to achieve identical results, those higher costs return — affecting everything from electronics to clothing to car parts.
What Happens Next
The Liberty Justice Center lawsuit now moves through federal court with Trump’s own words as evidence. Legal experts say presidents typically avoid stating their actions are designed to circumvent court rulings, making Trump’s Fox News comments unusually helpful to challengers.
The case will test whether an administration can simply cite a different law to impose tariffs courts have already deemed illegal when the president himself says the goal and effect are identical.
Key Points
- Trump admitted new tariffs achieve “the same thing” as those the Supreme Court ruled illegal
- Liberty Justice Center lawsuit argues changing the legal statute doesn’t make unconstitutional tariffs constitutional
- American families could face $831 annual cost increase if tariffs survive court challenge
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/28/trump-usmca-canada-mexico-trade-deal.html – July 28, 2026
