US Senator Chuck Schumer Says ‘Trump’s Tariffs Are Illegal, Money Must Be Refunded’

Washington, DC: US Senator Chuck Schumer has described the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump as “illegal” and insisted that the money collected under them “must be refunded.”

Reacting to the recent Supreme Court ruling, Schumer said, “First of all, the Supreme Court did what everyone knew was right. Everyone knew that if the Court was ruling correctly, it would strike this down. But this has created chaos in America. Trump’s promises to bring manufacturing jobs back have fallen flat. Prices were supposed to go down, but they have gone up. People in America are most worried about rising prices caused by these tariffs.”

He also criticized Trump’s response to the court’s decision, accusing him of verbally attacking the justices. “He was like a ten-year-old—name-calling, stomping his feet, criticizing Supreme Court judges. It was disgraceful,” Schumer said.

When asked about Trump’s remarks against the justices, Schumer called them “deeply condemnable.” He argued that since the tariffs had proven destructive, the president should have accepted the ruling and removed them. “Instead, he is coming up with another plan to impose similar tariffs that will keep prices high, eliminate more manufacturing jobs, increase inflation, and widen the trade deficit. He is trying to repeat all these bad policies,” Schumer added.

On being questioned about what would happen if refunds were not issued, Schumer responded, “See you in court. He will have to return to court. If the tariffs are illegal, the money must be refunded. Trump keeps trying to ignore, break, and violate the law. But in many cases—including this one—the courts have ruled against him.”

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States dealt a significant legal setback to President Trump’s trade agenda. In a 6–3 majority decision, the Court ruled that his broad global tariffs were unlawful, stating that he had exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and that the power to impose tariffs rests with Congress, not the president.

Trump strongly criticized the verdict, calling it “shameful,” and announced that he would explore legal options. He also imposed an immediate temporary 10 percent global tariff under a different law in an effort to maintain import duties.

The ruling has triggered mixed reactions among lawmakers and raised broader questions about refunds, trade policy, and constitutional limits on executive power