Trump Pushes Supreme Court Appeal on Tariffs While Brushing Off Health Rumors

After Health Speculation, Trump Reemerges With Bold Supreme Court Tariff Fight

After a surprisingly quiet Labor Day weekend, President Donald Trump re-emerged on Tuesday with a fiery press briefing at the White House. The president, who has been at the center of ongoing speculation about his health, pivoted the conversation to trade and tariffs, vowing an urgent Supreme Court appeal to protect one of his administration’s most controversial policies.

Trump made it clear that his administration is moving quickly to challenge a recent appeals court ruling that questioned the legality of his sweeping tariffs. “We’re going to be going to the Supreme Court, we think tomorrow, because we need an early decision,” Trump told reporters.

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The president didn’t mince words about what he believes the stakes are. If the higher court rules against him, Trump warned, the U.S. could face economic devastation. “If the wrong decision is made, it will be devastation for our country,” he said. “We would have to give trillions and trillions of dollars back to countries that have been ripping us off for the last 35 years.” According to the U.S. Treasury Department, tariffs have already generated roughly $142 billion in federal revenue for the 2025 fiscal year. Trump argued that removing them would strip the U.S. of a critical shield for domestic industry, even suggesting the country could slip into “third world” status without them.

Trump’s trade policies have been anything but conventional. Earlier this year, he imposed:

• “Reciprocal” tariffs of up to 50% on countries with large trade surpluses with the U.S.
• A 10% baseline tariff on most imports.
• 20% tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, citing their failure to curb illegal drug flows and migration.

But on August 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 that Trump had exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose such broad measures. The judges said that while presidents do have significant leeway in emergencies, the power to impose tariffs belongs primarily to Congress.

For now, the tariffs remain in place until October 14, when the enforcement of the ruling kicks in, unless the Supreme Court intervenes.

In classic Trump fashion, he didn’t just stick to tariffs. Asked about China’s upcoming military parade, expected to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—Trump shrugged it off. “I’m not concerned at all. No, I’m not at all. We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us, believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do.”

The president also reiterated his personal ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, claiming that Beijing needs Washington far more than the reverse. He even highlighted what he described as a “very good meeting” with Putin in Anchorage last month, though he left the door open to “taking a different stance” if progress with Russia doesn’t materialize. Still, Trump did not entirely let Putin off the hook. Earlier Tuesday, he voiced disappointment over Russia’s continued strikes on Ukraine, promising vaguely that “we will be doing something to help people live.”

Health Rumors and “Fake News”

Of course, no Trump appearance is complete without addressing the chatter around his personal health. Over the Labor Day weekend, social media platforms, from X to smaller political forums, buzzed with wild speculation, ranging from claims of minor ailments to outright death hoaxes.

Trump waved it all away with his signature disdain for the press. “I’ve been very active actually over the weekend,” he told reporters. “Well, it’s fake news, you know … that’s why the media has so little credibility.”

For a man who just days earlier declared on Truth Social, “I’VE NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,” the message was clear: the rumors are nothing more than political theater.

Between tariffs, China’s military parade, strained ties with Russia, and persistent health questions, Trump finds himself at the intersection of domestic and global uncertainty. His Supreme Court battle could reshape America’s trade authority for decades, while his dismissive tone on China and Russia will fuel debate within his own cabinet, where voices like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have sounded far more alarmist.

For Trump, however, it’s all business as usual, fighting off court rulings, brushing aside rumors, and projecting confidence both at home and abroad.

One thing is certain: whether it’s the courtroom, the global stage, or the rumor mill, Trump has no intention of stepping quietly aside.