‘Literally, LIFE OR DEATH’: Trump emphasizes crucial nature of Supreme Court tariff case

President Trump Tuesday emphasized the importance of arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday on the issue of executive branch power to set tariffs.

Posted Trump: “Tomorrow’s United States Supreme Court case is, literally, LIFE OR DEATH for our Country. With a Victory, we have tremendous, but fair, Financial and National Security. Without it, we are virtually defenseless against other Countries who have, for years, taken advantage of us. Our Stock Market is consistently hitting Record Highs, and our Country has never been more respected than it is right now. A big part of this is the Economic Security created by Tariffs, and the Deals that we have negotiated because of them. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The case involves whether or not the president can use “emergency powers” to unilaterally set tariffs on imports from other nations.

As CNN reports, Trump has relied on a 1970s-era emergency law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to levy the import duties. That law allows a president to “regulate … importation” during emergencies.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also emphasized the critical nature of the case.

“I’m actually going to go and sit, hopefully in the front row, and have a ringside seat,” Bessent told Fox News Monday night.

BREAKING: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ANNOUNCES he’s going to “SIT IN THE FRONT ROW” during THIS WEEK’S Supreme Court Tariff hearings

“I’m actually going to sit — hopefully in the front row — and have a ringside seat.”

“They can say what they want. I’m there to… pic.twitter.com/gKwMXh55Uc

— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) November 4, 2025

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern time.