Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has cast fresh doubt on President Donald Trump's proposed $2,000 tariff rebate, saying he has a sense the public will not receive the money following a Supreme Court setback on the administration's 'Liberation Day' tariffs.
Speaking after the Friday ruling, Bessent said: 'I got a feeling the American people won't see it,' referring to the suggested rebate payment.
Bessent's remark landed as questions swirled about whether any tariff-funded rebate could realistically move from talking point to policy. He was discussing the rebate idea in the context of the Supreme Court decision that undercut the tariff programme Trump has pointed to as a potential funding source.
The Treasury chief's scepticism also reflected the lack of an agreed mechanism to distribute such a payment. No final plan has been publicly set out by the White House or enacted by Congress, leaving the rebate concept vulnerable to legal and political shocks.
Trump, who first raised the idea back in July 2025, gave it a firmer timeline in January, describing an eventual rebate cheque tied to tariff revenue in comments toThe New York Times. He said: 'The tariff money is so substantial. That's coming in, that I'll be able to do $2,000 sometime. I would say toward the end of the year,'
Trump later indicated the payments would be delivered in 2026 and aimed at 'individuals of moderate income'. Even then, key details remained missing, including eligibility rules, a payment timetable, and whether lawmakers would be asked to vote on the programme.
The rebate pitch depended on a steady stream oftariff receipts, but that premise was thrown into doubt after the Supreme Court ruled Trump exceeded his power by issuing global tariffs without authorisation from Congress. The decision immediately sharpened scrutiny of any plan to recycle tariff proceeds back to households.
Bessent also questioned the fundamental value of the idea, arguing that any payout would end up benefiting corporations rather than ordinary Americans. 'If there is a payout, it's just going to be the ultimate corporate welfare,'he said, adding that the revenue affected by the ruling would be closer to $130 billion than estimates of up to $175 billion.
After today's Supreme Court decision, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Trump is going to utilize alternative methods that will result in "virtually unchanged" 2026 tariff revenue..pic.twitter.com/q1rz95tyvZ
Trumpresponded with an unusually direct attack on the court majority. 'The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing and I'm ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what's right for the country,' Trump said in the White House briefing room.
Source: International Business Times UK
