U.S. President Donald Trump vigorously defended his signature tariff policy on Thursday, February 19, 2026, during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corp. facility in Cedartown, Georgia, just as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of the sweeping global tariffs he imposed last year.
Speaking after touring the steel plant, Trump credited his re-election on November 5, 2024, and what he calls “the Trump tariffs” for revitalizing American manufacturing, particularly in steel and related industries. “Thanks to the fact that we got elected on Nov. 5, and thanks to what I call the Trump tariffs, business and steel is booming again,” he told reporters.
He pointed to a “large, substantial order” secured by Coosa Steel in October 2025 as direct evidence of the policy’s success. “We’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars,” Trump said. “We’re going to be taking in next year $900 million in tariffs, unless the Supreme Court said you can’t do it. Can you believe it? That I have to be up here, trying to justify that?”
The president described the tariffs as “common sense” and said they have already generated $12 billion in revenue, part of which has been distributed to American farmers who, he claimed, had been “taken advantage of by many, many foreign nations.” “Without tariffs, this country would be in so much trouble right now,” he argued.
The remarks came one day before the Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision—possibly as early as Friday, February 20, 2026—in a landmark case challenging Trump’s authority to impose broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. The law allows the president to regulate international commerce during a declared national emergency, but challengers—including business groups, importers, and several Democratic-led states—argue that Trump exceeded his authority by applying sweeping global tariffs without clear congressional limits on scope, duration, or justification.
Oral arguments in the case were heard in November 2025, with the court’s 6-3 conservative majority giving few clear signals about its likely direction. The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power “to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises” and to regulate commerce with foreign nations, raising questions about whether the president can unilaterally impose economy-wide tariffs under emergency powers.
An adverse ruling would represent a major economic and political setback for one of the defining policies of Trump’s second term. The administration has already collected billions in tariff revenue and distributed $12 billion to farmers affected by retaliatory measures from trading partners. The White House projects nearly $1 billion in additional tariff revenue for fiscal year 2026, funds that support agricultural subsidies and other domestic programs.
During the Georgia visit, Trump highlighted the steel industry’s resurgence, crediting tariffs with protecting domestic producers from what he described as unfair foreign competition, particularly from China. Coosa Steel executives echoed the president’s remarks, noting increased orders and expanded production since the tariffs took effect.
The case has divided legal scholars and economists. Supporters argue that IEEPA grants broad presidential discretion in emergencies, including trade disruptions. Critics contend that the statute was never intended to authorize indefinite, economy-wide tariffs without specific congressional authorization.
If the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs, the administration could face immediate financial consequences, including the need to refund duties already collected and potential disruptions to industries that have benefited from protection. It would also force a reevaluation of Trump’s broader trade strategy, which has relied heavily on unilateral tariff authority.
The president’s visit to Coosa Steel was part of a multi-state tour highlighting manufacturing gains under his administration. He used the platform to warn that overturning the tariffs would reverse recent progress and leave American workers vulnerable.
As the Supreme Court deliberates, markets and trading partners are watching closely. A decision upholding the tariffs would reinforce Trump’s trade agenda and provide legal certainty for ongoing negotiations with major partners. A ruling limiting presidential authority could shift power back toward Congress and prompt new legislative battles over trade policy.
The outcome, expected imminently, will likely shape U.S. economic policy and international trade relations for years to come.
