Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Monday the Trump administration expects to win its Supreme Court case on tariffs and deliver $2,000 dividend payments to Americans.
The payments are expected to be sent by mid-2026.
“Tariffs are going to be a part of this administration’s national security and national economic protection of the American people,” Lutnick told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria.”
The Supreme Court heard arguments November 5 on whether President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs exceeded his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Lower courts had previously ruled Trump lacked legal authority under the statute, but Lutnick said he was confident the Trump administration would win in the Supreme Court.
“We are gonna win the case, it’s pretty clear,” Lutnick said.
Chief Justice John Roberts noted the statute says nothing about tariffs, but noted that taxes have always been “the core power of Congress.”
Justice Neil Gorsuch posed perhaps the most vocal challenge to Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who defended the tariffs.
“You’re saying inherent authority in foreign affairs, all foreign affairs, to regulate commerce, duties, and tariffs and war. Its inherent authority all the way down, you say. Fine,” Gorsuch said. “Congress decides tomorrow, well, we’re tired of this legislating business. We’re just going to hand it all off to the president. What would stop Congress from doing that?”
When asked what options the president has if the court rules against the administration, Lutnick said President Donald Trump has “all sorts of policies and tools” available.
Lutnick spoke from Brussels where he met with European lawmakers to discuss Trump’s trade policies.
He said the administration views tariffs as a cornerstone of its economic agenda.
“One of the ways to prove to the American people how great tariffs are is to have them share in a part of one year’s income from these tariffs and that’s $2,000 a head for people who need the money,” Lutnick said.
Trump first floated the idea of issuing a dividend from tariff revenue on November 9.
“A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that Americans can expect the checks around mid-2026.
“We’re going to be issuing dividends later on, somewhere prior to, you know, probably the middle of next year, a little bit later than that,” Trump said. “Thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income.”
Since Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, tariff revenues have climbed from $23.9 billion in May to $28 billion in June and $29 billion in July. Total duty revenue reached $215.2 billion in fiscal year 2025, which ended September 30, according to the Treasury Department.
So far in fiscal year 2026, which began October 1, the U.S. has collected $37.5 billion, according to the latest numbers published by the Treasury Department.
Treasury Secretary Scott said Sunday that dividend checks would be “for working families” and would have an income limit, and said Congress would be needed to authorize the dividends.
Trump told reporters Thursday it would be “devastating for our country” if he lost the Supreme Court case.
“We’ll have to develop a game two plan” in that situation, Trump said