Trump Promises to Refund Companies Who Already Paid Tariffs If Court Rules Them 'Unlawful'

"The government will issue refunds to plaintiffs, including any post-judgment interest that accrues"

President Donald Trump has pledged to refund U.S. companies that have paid tariffs i they are deemed "unlawful" by the courts.

The promise was made in court filings amid ongoing legal challenges to tariffs imposed by executive orders. The Trump administration argues that the trade deficit presents a national emergency and thus the president has the authority to institute tariffs. The U.S. Court of International Trade disagreed in a ruling that would require the tariffs to be paused.

Lawyers representing the administration quickly filed an appeal, which included a stay request that would allow the tariffs to continue pending appeal. A federal appeals court unanimously ruled to grant the stay.

Typically, courts require assurance that the stay will not harm the other side of the case. To fulfill this expectation, Trump's legal team made a promise:

If tariffs imposed on plaintiffs during these appeals are ultimately held unlawful, then the government will issue refunds to plaintiffs, including any post-judgment interest that accrues.

CNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell discussed the promise on his show, The Last Word, in a diatribe criticizing Trump's competency and trade policies. He posited that the president may not even be fully aware of what has been promised to business owners impacted by the tariffs, or of the billions he may be required to refund.