Gov. Newsom demands refund checks for Americans after SCOTUS strikes down Trump's tariffs
Gov. Gavin Newsom is demanding immediate tariff refund checks for Americans after the Supreme Court ruled that most of President Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal.
Trump says he will use a different authority to continue the tariffs. He says they brought in billions in revenue, but, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court said the president did not properly use his emergency powers. On Friday, he called the Supreme Court's decision a disgrace.
"How ridiculous is that? I'm allowed to embargo them. I'm allowed to tell them, 'You can't do business in the United States anymore. We want you out of here.' But if I want to charge them $10, I can't do that," Trump said.
RELATED: Majority of Americans disapprove of how Trump handling tariffs: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll
Trump's tariffs were challenged by a group of states, including California, and small business owners, who argued in front of the high court in November.
"There's nothing in the International Economic Emergencies Power Act that gives the President of the United States unilateral authority to impose a tax increase on ranchers, on farmers, on small businesses, on you and me. Donald Trump should return that money immediately. He has an obligation," Newsom said.
In a press release, Newsom's office elaborated, calling on the Trump administration to "immediately issue refund checks - with interest - to American families and businesses after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs were illegal."
"Time to pay the piper, Donald. These tariffs were nothing more than an illegal cash grab that drove up prices and hurt working families, so you could wreck longstanding alliances and extort them. Every dollar unlawfully taken must be refunded immediately - with interest. Cough up!" Newsom wrote.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the president did not have the authority under the Emergency Powers Act to impose tariffs without approval from Congress.
In a dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with Trump, writing that he disagrees with the court's opinion, adding he believes Trump may find another way to impose tariffs.
Trump announced his plan to do just that through a different statute -- a new, 10% global tariff under a different trade law.
"Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under section 122, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged, Trump said.
State officials say they're reviewing whether that move could also face legal challenges.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta - who helped lead the legal challenge - says the next step is about accountability.
"The next appropriate question now is, 'How exactly, and how fast do the businesses that were harmed get their refunds?'" Bonta said.
If the federal government does not voluntarily issue checks and businesses seek repayment, this could turn into a years-long legal battle.
"He [Trump] treated them illegally. He made them pay money that they shouldn't have had to pay, took money out of their pocket, and now, he should give it back," Bonta told Eyewitness News.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court offered no clarity on what to do with the money the administration has already collected from the tariffs -- approximately $134 billion. That decision will likely be sorted out by the lower courts.
