KEY POINTS

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he is “confident” Donald Trump’s tariff plan “will win” at the Supreme Court, but warned the U.S. would be forced to issue massive refunds if it loses.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noted that there are “other legal authorities” that the administration could use if the tariffs are blocked.

Before court action, Trump’s tariffs were set to affect nearly 70% of U.S. goods imports.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    1 day ago

    Bessent has warned that a delayed ruling “could result in a scenario in which $750 billion-$1 trillion in tariffs have already been collected.”

    “But, Your Honor. I’ve been running people over in my truck for a good three months now. If you ruled that running people over in my truck is illegal, why…there’d have to be considerable compensation paid!”

    It’s a novel argument.

    • GreenShimada@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      What phenomenal bullshit - There’s no way they’ve collected that much, or even will by the end of the year. That’s 20% of the Federal budget, or 3% of GDP, collected in the last 5 months of the year after whiplash, back and forth “we’re doing it today, no, now we’re waiting 2 weeks”?

      They’re setting this all up for the largest theft ever committed on Earth.

    • three_trains_in_a_trenchcoat@piefed.social
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      1 day ago

      it’s not a compelling argument for the likes of you or me, but for the poor ultra-wealthy and powerful of the world, it often makes the spark of compassion in a judge’s heart flare brightly.

      • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
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        19 hours ago

        The supreme Court will love it!

        Just like when everyone thought absolutely presidential immunity was a crazy idea. We all laughed at that little guy with the raspy voice making that crazy case to the supreme Court. They loved that shit!!