The U.S. Supreme Court is on the brink of potentially complicating President Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland, with a crucial decision expected as early as Tuesday. This ruling could declare his proposed trade tariffs illegal, creating a significant obstacle for his controversial plans to acquire the territory.
In a bold statement shared on Truth Social late last night, Trump reiterated his commitment to this acquisition: "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!" This marks yet another escalation in his rhetoric surrounding Greenland.
Just the previous Saturday, Trump had threatened to impose hefty tariffs starting at 10%—with potential increases to 25%—on several countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, and Finland. He stated these tariffs would remain in place “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
However, analysts are closely monitoring developments as the Supreme Court prepares to announce its decisions this week. There is growing anticipation on Wall Street that the court might determine that the president lacks the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy tariffs on standard international trade practices. Should this occur, Trump’s recent threats may lose their weight, at least temporarily.
UBS analysts issued a note to clients this morning, cautioning that “Threatened U.S. tariffs … may be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.” Similarly, economists Carsten Brzeski and Bert Colijn from ING noted that if the court decides against all prior IEEPA-related tariffs, Trump's announcement regarding Greenland would effectively become null and void, forcing him to seek alternative tariffs—an endeavor that would likely require additional time.
Originally, a ruling was anticipated earlier in the month, but delays have sparked speculation that the court's justices, who appeared skeptical during oral arguments, may now be leaning favorably toward the Trump Administration. It’s not uncommon for the Supreme Court to take extra time to finalize major rulings that catch legal experts off guard.
While the Court is scheduled to release more opinions this week, Deutsche Bank economists, including Jim Reid, expressed in their morning brief that they believe the ruling may not surface until later this year, possibly as late as June.
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About the Author:
Jim Edwards serves as the executive editor for global news at Fortune. He previously held the position of editor-in-chief for Business Insider’s news division and was the founding editor for Business Insider UK. His investigative reporting has led to significant legal changes in two U.S. federal districts and two states. Notably, his work related to the death penalty was referenced by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Baze v. Rees case, concerning the constitutionality of lethal injection. Edwards also received the Neal Award for his investigation into corruption in advertising on Madison Avenue.
