Trump Lashes Out at Supreme Court Justices He Appointed

The former president criticized judges who ruled against his tariffs despite appointing them to the high court.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:48pm

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Former President Donald Trump criticized Supreme Court justices he appointed after they ruled against his tariff policies, saying they were disloyal. Trump's vision of a Supreme Court that would be loyal to him clashed with the court's own view of its role as an independent branch of government.

Why it matters

Trump's comments highlight the ongoing tension between the executive and judicial branches, as well as concerns about the politicization of the Supreme Court nomination process. The incident also raises questions about the independence of the judiciary and the extent to which presidents can expect loyalty from judges they appoint.

The details

In a series of statements, Trump lashed out at the three Supreme Court justices he appointed - Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett - for ruling against his efforts to impose tariffs. Trump claimed the justices were "very disloyal" and accused them of letting him down.

  • Trump appointed the three justices during his presidency from 2017 to 2020.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who appointed the three Supreme Court justices he later criticized.

Neil Gorsuch

A Supreme Court justice appointed by Trump in 2017.

Brett Kavanaugh

A Supreme Court justice appointed by Trump in 2018.

Amy Coney Barrett

A Supreme Court justice appointed by Trump in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“The three Justices I appointed all ruled against me in the political decision on the Tariffs. Terrible, especially since they are Republicans.”

— Donald Trump, Former President

The takeaway

Trump's criticism of the Supreme Court justices he appointed highlights the ongoing debate over the role of the judiciary and the extent to which presidents can expect loyalty from their judicial nominees. This incident underscores the importance of judicial independence and the need to maintain a clear separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches.