A GOP fundraising speech went wildly off track Wednesday as President Donald Trump veered into a vicious attack on Supreme Court justices he appointed.
The National Republican Congressional Committee dinner at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station descended into the angry airing of deeply held grievances as Trump lost it against the judges he believes betrayed him by striking down his tariff scheme.
"I got a decision on tariffs that's going to cost our country... hundreds of billions, potentially, of refunds," he began.
"Giving them back to people that have been ripping off our country because the Supreme Court didn't want to put one little sentence that all money taken in up 'til this date doesn't have to be paid back. Going to cost us hundreds of billions of dollars. So sad to see."
His wildly meandering speech then dabbled in college sports policy, but he quickly returned to his judicial anger.
"Courts, bad courts in this country, are costing us a tremendous amount of money. And the Supreme Court, that's right, of the United States, cost our country — all they needed was a sentence — hundreds of billions of dollars and they couldn't care less. They couldn't care less."
Trump then singled out two justices he had personally appointed.
"And not that it matters, doesn't matter at all," he said. "But two of the people that voted for that, I appointed. And they sicken me. They sicken me because they're bad for our country."
He was referring to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.
The court's 6-3 decision in February found Trump had overstepped his authority by imposing wide-ranging tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "The President asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it."
Following the ruling, Trump called the justices "lap dogs," a "disgrace to our nation," and "disloyal to the Constitution." He also accused them of being influenced by foreign interests and "slimeballs" from other countries.
When speaking to reporters, Trump stated, "The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I'm ashamed of certain members of the Court — absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country."
In a lengthy Truth Social post weeks later, Trump suggested the ruling "mattered most to me" and was responsible for the U.S. being in "such major decline."
Roberts responded to those attacks during a public appearance, saying, "Judges around the country work very hard to get it right, and if they don't, their opinions are subject to criticism. But personally directed hostility is dangerous, and it's got to stop."