Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Supreme Court Hearing Arguments On Donald Trump’s Illegal Tariffs

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor as arguments on Donald Trump's illegal and economically disastrous tariffs are being heard by the Supreme Court. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

After an overwhelming rejection of the Trump/Republican agenda at the polls, this morning, Donald Trump's lawyers are at the Supreme Court trying to argue his global tariffs are legal. They are illegal, but they're arguing they're legal.

It's hard to imagine a worse morning-after for Donald Trump and Republicans than to have go to the Supreme Court and defend these tariffs, which are dramatically raising Americans' costs. And that's why Republicans were so shellacked last night.

Maybe the Supreme Court will put Donald Trump and Republicans out of their tariff misery by declaring Trump's tariffs illegal, which of course we know they are because Trump's tariffs have been one of the biggest tax hikes on American families in recent memory.

Poll after poll after poll shows that Americans are paying more at the grocery store, that they blame Trump for rising prices, and that they disapprove of his tariffs. The Supreme Court should do the right thing and strike down Trump's tariffs before they spiral our economy into an even bigger crisis.

And if our democracy is to mean anything at all, we should remember that the Constitution is clear-clear as a liberty bell-that the power to tax and tariff resides in Congress, not the presidency, not by unilateral power, not based on some BS "emergency" declaration.

Donald Trump is not a king. He is bound by the Constitution and by his oath to protect the American people. Today the Court should make clear that Donald Trump is not above the law.

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