WASHINGTON, Feb 24, (V7N) - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized the Supreme Court for striking down his global tariffs, calling the decision “very unfortunate” during his State of the Union address.

The court ruled 6-3 that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing sweeping duties, but the president swiftly introduced a new 10-percent tariff under a different law, effective Tuesday, with plans to raise it to 15 percent. He insisted the temporary tariffs would ease the tax burden on Americans, though a New York Federal Reserve study found nearly 90 percent of the costs fall on US firms and consumers.

Trump also boasted that the United States had received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, and claimed American oil production was up by 600,000 barrels per day.

In a record-long address, Trump painted an optimistic picture of the nation’s economy and strength, while warning of Iran’s “sinister nuclear ambitions.” He said his preference remained diplomacy but vowed Iran would never be allowed to build a nuclear weapon.

The president honored Team USA’s Olympic ice hockey champions, awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to their goalie, and presented Medals of Honor to a helicopter pilot wounded in Venezuela and a 100-year-old Korean War veteran.

Democrats staged a boycott, with at least 40 lawmakers absent, while Trump’s approval ratings remain low amid controversies, including immigration raids and fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

END/SMA/RH