Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s proposal to issue $2,000 tariff rebate checks to most Americans would require Congress’ approval.“We will see. We need legislation for that,” Bessent said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” when asked about rebate checks, adding that “Those could go out.”
Trump has repeatedly suggested using tariffs to fund rebate checks in recent months, including in a Truth Social post last weekend. “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! … A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” he wrote. Trump first floated the idea of Americans potentially receiving a portion of the tariff revenue in July. The payments would be “for working families” and would have an income limit, Bessent said Sunday.
But the Supreme Court could strike down a large chunk of Trump’s tariffs when it decides on the president’s use of an emergency law. The court appeared deeply concerned earlier this month with Trump’s reliance on the law, with several conservative justices picking apart the administration’s position.
The tariffs have faced scrutiny for contributing to higher inflation on consumer goods, though Bessent and others in Trump’s economic team have denied that tariffs are essentially a tax on American consumers.
“I don’t think this ruling is going to go against us, but if it does, what’s (the Supreme Court’s) plan for refunds? Because how is this going to get to consumers? Are they just going to hand some of these importers big windfalls?” Bessent said Sunday.
“I don’t think the Supreme Court wants to wade into a mess like that,” Bessent added.