Gov. Newsom calls on Trump to refund $1,751 to every household after the Supreme Court ruled his tariffs illegal.

When the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a blockbuster decision this week, it didn’t just reshape trade policy — it sparked a dramatic call to action from one of America’s most outspoken governors.

The high court, in a 6–3 ruling, held that wide-ranging tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional, saying the president lacked the authority to levy such broad import taxes without Congress.
Almost immediately, California Governor Gavin Newsom seized the moment. In a fiery statement Friday, he blasted the tariffs as an “illegal cash grab” that forced working families to pay more for everyday goods and “wrecked longstanding alliances.”
But Newsom didn’t stop at criticism. Citing a Yale report showing the tariffs cost the average American household about $1,751 last year, he made an unusual demand: that Trump refund $1,751 to every household in the country — with interest.

“Time to pay the piper, Donald,” Newsom said, urging the White House to cut refund checks immediately. “Every dollar unlawfully taken must be refunded — with interest. Cough up!”

Newsom’s call drew attention nationwide, with other state leaders echoing similar demands and raising questions about what comes next. The Trump administration, for its part, has pushed back, suggesting legal fights over refunds are just beginning.