Democrats Demand $1,700 Per Household Tariff Refund After Supreme Court Nullifies Trump’s Policies
Democrats are demanding $1,700 in tariff refunds for Americans following the Supreme Court’s strike down of President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Thursday demanding that the Trump administration “refund approximately $1,751 for every New York household, for a total tariff refund of approximately $13.5 billion to New Yorkers.” She added, “To that end, I am calling on the Department of the Treasury to coordinate with appropriate agencies and immediately formulate and implement a plan to refund all tariff proceeds.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made a similar demand earlier this week, stating: “Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof. This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional.” He demanded a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois, noting that with 5,105,448 households in his state, the total damages owed amount to $8,679,261,600.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also called for action, stating it was “time to pay the piper.” He described the tariffs as “nothing more than an illegal cash grab that drove up prices and hurt working families,” adding that every dollar unlawfully taken must be refunded immediately — with interest.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stated after the ruling that it was “time for Trump to pay up and give back your money.” In a post on X, she said: “When someone illegally takes your money, that’s called stealing. Donald Trump stole your money with his illegal tariffs — and you paid higher prices on everything from housing to groceries. It’s time for Trump to pay up and give back your money.”
A report released Friday by Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee found that American families paid an average of $1,745 in tariff-related costs between February 2025 and January 2026 — totaling more than $231 billion overall.
The Supreme Court’s ruling determined that tariffs imposed by President Trump under emergency powers were unconstitutional, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country.
