President Donald Trump, who has declared it a matter of “LIFE OR DEATH,” opted against attending Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing over his billion-dollar tariffs, but his lawyer presented the case in similarly audacious terms.

“President Trump determined that our exploding trade deficits had brought us to the brink of an economic and national security catastrophe,” US Solicitor General D. John Sauer said, layering his arguments with warnings about the “ruthless trade retaliation” and “ruinous economic and national security consequences” Americans would face if the court struck down Trump’s tariffs.

Sauer exhibited his usual rapid-paced, overconfident style at the courtroom lectern as he seemed to channel Trump. He faced considerable skepticism from justices for his assertion of unilateral tariff power, yet key justices also poked holes in the challengers’ arguments.

At the end of nearly three hours of intense argument – in which Sauer was twice encouraged to slow down – the case appeared close. Lower courts have ruled against Trump, and the momentum remains with the challengers: a New York-based wine importer, Illinois educational-toy maker and a group of states.

All three of the liberal justices (Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson) looked ready to strike down the sweeping tariffs, and three of the six conservatives voiced reservation