This article was originally published by Jacob Thomas at Natural News.
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- President Donald Trump warned he will monitor which companies seek refunds on tariffs the Supreme Court declared illegal, suggesting forgone refunds could earn his favor.
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- Trump called it brilliant if companies like Amazon and Apple avoid seeking refunds, stating, “If they don’t do that, I will remember them.”
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- The Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection launching refunds of $166 billion on April 20.
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- Despite the ruling, Trump has criticized the justices who voted against him and maintained an aggressive tariff strategy, raising $182 billion through September 2025 and threatening new tariffs on nations arming Iran.
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- The refund process, described as potentially the largest in U.S. customs history, involves over 330,000 importers, but Trump’s warning has created a chilling effect on corporations seeking their legal entitlement.
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the corporate world, President Donald Trump has openly warned that he will be watching which companies choose to seek refunds on tariffs the Supreme Court declared illegal earlier this year, suggesting those that forgo the payouts could find favor with his administration.
During an interview with CNBC, Trump was asked about reports that corporate giants Amazon and Apple Inc. had delayed seeking refunds over concerns it would upset the president. His response was characteristically direct. “It’s brilliant if they don’t do that,” Trump said. “If they don’t do that, I will remember them.”
The remarks come as U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched the first phase of tariff refunds on April 20, following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated Trump’s global levies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. Court of International Trade ordered the agency to refund duties collected under that authority, amounting to a staggering $166 billion in tariffs, based on government data.
Neither Amazon nor Apple has publicly stated whether they will seek refunds. Both companies declined to respond to requests for comment. Law firm Fox Rothschild LLP has described the refund process as potentially the single largest refund directive in the history of U.S. customs law, calling it a logistical nightmare. More than 330,000 importers must file claims involving over 53 million entries of refundable duties, according to the firm.
Tariffs continue despite setback
Companies seeking refunds must submit claims through Customs and Border Protection or pursue litigation in the U.S. Court of International Trade. Officials have acknowledged that processing claims will take significant time, given the unprecedented scale. Trump, meanwhile, has not softened his criticism of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of tariffs should be ashamed of themselves,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Feb. 20. “Their decision was ridiculous, now the adjustment process begins and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before.”
Despite the legal blow, Trump’s tariff strategy remains aggressive. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Trump’s tariffs raised $182 billion from January through September 2025 and an additional $107.6 billion from October 2025 through January 2026. The administration has also signaled that new tariff measures could be coming. On April 6, Trump threatened higher tariffs on countries that arm Iran.
“A country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” Trump wrote on social media.
The refund process has massive implications for the U.S. economy. The Supreme Court’s ruling focused on multiple sets of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, though the court clarified its decision did not affect tariffs imposed under other statutes.
For American businesses, the refunds represent hundreds of billions in potential relief that could flow back into supply chains and ultimately lower consumer prices. However, Trump’s warning has created a chilling effect, with some major corporations reportedly hesitant to pursue the money they are legally entitled to receive.
Trump’s comments suggest that corporate decision-making on this issue could have long-term consequences for how his administration treats individual companies, raising questions about whether the refund process will truly be driven by legal entitlement or political considerations.
BrightU.AI‘s Enoch notes that as the first phase of refunds begins, the corporate world faces an uncomfortable choice: pursue legally mandated refunds and risk presidential ire, or forgo billions and hope for future favor from the White House.
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