Trump promises $2,000 ‘tariff dividend’ as Supreme Court weighs limits on his trade powers

US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his sweeping tariffs and promised a $2,000 “dividend” for most Americans, even as the Supreme Court appeared skeptical during oral arguments of his sweeping claims of authority to impose tariffs as he sees fit.

“People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER... A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”

Trump’s post came just days after Supreme Court justices heard arguments over whether he exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs this year on nearly every country in the world. The court’s conservative and liberal justices alike voiced skepticism about the president’s claim that an emergency law allows him near-limitless power to set and change import duties.

Justice Neil Gorsuch warned that Trump’s interpretation could tilt too much power toward the executive branch.

“It’s a one-way ratchet toward the gradual but continual accretion of power in the executive branch and away from the people’s elected representatives,” he said, noting that the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy tariffs.

Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether the emergency statute could be stretched to permit tariffs “on any product, from any country, in any amount, for any length of time.”

Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed government lawyers to justify the scope of Trump’s tariffs, asking, “Spain? France? I mean, I could see it with some countries but explain to me why as many countries needed to be subject to the reciprocal tariff policy.”

The case marks the first major test of Trump’s economic agenda to reach the high court, which he reshaped by appointing three of its nine justices.

The justices are expected to issue a decision in the coming months.

Trump, meanwhile, has warned that striking down his tariffs would leave the United States “defenseless” and “reduced to almost Third World status.”

Even if the court curtails his authority, Trump would still have multiple avenues to impose tariffs. He used several such powers during his first term and could invoke others dating back to the Great Depression to continue taxing imports.