Former U.S. President Donald Trump has come under sharp questioning from the Supreme Court over his administration’s import tariff policies, which judges say may have violated Congress’s constitutional authority to impose taxes. Both conservative and liberal justices expressed skepticism about the White House’s justification for the tariffs, originally imposed on imports from countries including China, Canada, and Mexico. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the tariffs were regulatory measures, not taxes, but several justices disagreed. Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that Americans are effectively paying those tariffs, making them functionally taxes. Trump defended the tariffs as essential for national security and for restoring America’s manufacturing base, adding that if the Court strikes them down, his administration has a “backup plan.” He warned that losing the case would be devastating for the U.S. economy but claimed legal confidence, saying most experts believe he stands on firm ground.