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John Mulaney Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump’s Tariff Powers

The justices are weighing whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes sweeping import tariffs.

Overview

  • Mulaney watched from the public gallery and later posted on X, calling it the “cheap seats” and sharing a hand-drawn seating diagram.
  • The nearly three-hour session drew high-profile attendees including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Ed Markey.
  • Oral arguments centered on the scope of IEEPA rather than the economic effects of the tariffs, with questions focused on statutory limits to executive authority.
  • The challenged measures include a 10% global tariff announced earlier this year and higher reciprocal tariffs affecting nearly 50 countries.
  • Neal Katyal argued for small-business plaintiffs, the court’s decision remains pending, and he is collaborating with Mulaney on a planned TV series about the Supreme Court.