‘US will be destroyed, military obliterated’: Trump furious over tariff ruling but thanks Obama-appointed judge

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Aug 31) warned that America would be “completely destroyed” without the tariffs he imposed, just days after a federal appeals court ruled that most of them were illegal.

“Without Tariffs, and all of the TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS we have already taken in, our Country would be completely destroyed, and our military power would be instantly obliterated,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial.

He lashed out at the court’s 7–4 decision, branding the majority judges “a Radical Left group.” Trump, however, praised one dissenting judge, “a Democrat, Obama appointed”, thanking him “for his Courage” and adding, “He loves and respects the USA.”

On Friday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said Trump lacked the authority to impose sweeping, open-ended tariffs on almost all imports. While the court struck them down, it allowed the duties to remain in place until October 14, giving Trump time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The tariffs have been a pillar of Trump’s trade policy, with global consequences. India has been hit with a 50 per cent duty — among the steepest — largely due to its continued imports of Russian oil.

Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, backed his boss on Fox News, dismissing the judges who opposed the tariffs as “politicians in black robes.” He said the dissenting opinions provided “a very clear road map to how the Supreme Court can certainly rule in our favor.”

Navarro also insisted the tariffs were not designed to be permanent. “We feel very optimistic. If we lose the case, President Trump is right. It will be the end of the United States,” he said.