On Friday, Donald Trump said he had considered nominating Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, for a possible future seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. However, Cruz had already indicated last month that he was not interested in being nominated.

Speaking at a rally in Corpus Christi, Trump described Cruz as “an amazing guy” and joked that lawmakers from both parties would likely confirm him quickly because they might want him out of the Senate, according to Reuters.

“He’s the only person I know who would get 100% of the Democrat vote and 100% of the Republican vote,” Trump joked. “They’d want to get him out of there. He’s a pain sometimes, but he’s incredibly talented.”

Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6–3 to strike down Trump’s authority to impose global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Within hours of the decision, Trump signed a new order from the Oval Office introducing a 10 percent global tariff using a different legal basis.

The White House responded quickly following the ruling. During an appearance on the Fox & Friends Weekend on Fox News, John Kennedy, the Republican senator from Louisiana, discussed the decision.

Kennedy suggested the ruling may have little political impact, noting that roughly $300 billion in tariff revenue had already been collected under Trump’s trade policies. He explained that the funds are already in government accounts and that trade agreements negotiated under those tariffs remain in place.

“My Democratic friends should be careful what they wish for,” Kennedy said. “If he ends up returning $300 billion in tariff money to American businesses, the economy could take off—and the midterm elections are only months away.” He added that the court’s decision was predictable.

Tariff revenue reached $30.4 billion in January alone, marking a 275 percent increase compared with January 2025.

Kennedy emphasized that the Court’s decision addressed the legality of the method used to impose the tariffs, but pointed out that the authority had already been used extensively.

“The president didn’t just sit there with that authority,” Kennedy said. “He actually used it to negotiate trade deals.”

In 2025, Trump declared the U.S. trade deficit a national emergency and invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs. Agreements negotiated during that period are still active.

Last week, Trump announced the new tariff order on Truth Social, writing that he had signed a measure establishing a global 10 percent tariff on all countries, effective almost immediately.

The White House stated that the revenue generated from tariffs could support domestic programs and help lower the national debt. The new tariff remains in place under a different authority, while previous trade agreements remain unchanged.

Democrats welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, arguing that tariffs raise costs for consumers. Meanwhile, the administration quickly introduced a new mechanism to maintain tariffs before the end of the day.

Since the decision, Trump has repeatedly criticized the Court on Truth Social, posting several messages about the ruling. He claimed the Court had “accidentally” given him even greater authority.

Trump also hinted that he expects another legal challenge when the Court reviews his executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

In one post, Trump argued that he could use licensing powers against foreign countries that he believes have taken advantage of the United States economically, though he questioned why the U.S. could not charge licensing fees under the Court’s interpretation.

Later, Trump increased the global tariff rate from 10 percent to 15 percent.