U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the government could have to pay back more than $2 trillion in tariff revenue and investments, if the Supreme Court rules that the duties are illegal.
Trump, in a social media post, claimed that those opposing his trade tariffs were intentionally providing lower estimates for their repayment costs so that the Supreme Court will be more inclined to rule against them.
“The actual Number we would have to pay back in Tariff Revenue and Investments would be in excess of $2 Trillion Dollars, and that, in itself, would be a National Security catastrophe,” Trump said in a post on Truth.Social.
Trump’s tariffs are currently being considered by the Supreme Court amid a slew of legal challenges to the contentious measures. During last week’s oral arguments on the case, Supreme Court justices cast doubt over Trump’s ability to impose the tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
But it remains unclear just what the court will eventually rule. Trump has also warned that he can find other avenues to impose his tariffs.
Trump had earlier this week raised the possibility of issuing $2000 payments to U.S. citizens from the revenue collected from his tariffs.
Government revenue from trade tariffs rose sharply so far in 2025, after Trump announced duties against a slew of major U.S. trading partners. But analysts have questioned just for how long this can be maintained, given that the tariffs are borne by U.S. importers and were seen pushing up inflation in several sectors.
Source : Investing.com