The fate of Trump’s use of tariffs to get his way in the world seems to lie in the hands of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has been spooked by the spectre of leftwing violence and has been voting their way ever since her family was threatened.
Barrett no doubt holds the deciding vote in the SCOTUS review of the president’s use of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Chief Justice John Roberts is a lock to vote with the liberal bloc.
For the court to end Trump’s use of IEEPA for whatever purpose he sees fit, Barrett is probably the easiest swing vote among the justices who lean to the conservative side, or at least who did when they were appointed. Justice Brett Kavanaugh may join Barrett in voting against the president, as he has done in the past. Both, of course, were appointed by President Trump.
The SCOTUS ruling is expected at any time, and most observers anticipate a vote against Trump. This is all the more relevant currently, as Trump has just announced a series of sweeping tariffs against European nations deemed to be blocking his acquisition of Greenland.
If he loses the power to use tariffs to bully EU nations into acceding to his demand to purchase Greenland, his only other option would be a military takeover, which would probably even have Republicans voting to impeach him.
Trump on Friday announced that he is adding a 10-percent tariff on Denmark and seven other countries — Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland — unless a deal is reached for him to buy Greenland. He also announced that the tariff would increase to 25 percent if a deal is not reached by June 1.
A SCOTUS ruling could come next week. What, then, Mr. President, if you lose the vote? Try to remove Justice Barrett and perhaps Justice Kavanaugh, citing mortgage fraud?
