President Trump takes his tax policy on the road

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that tariffs are the way to fund the federal government and possibly a way to eventually cut income taxes.

After the Supreme Court struck down the President’s tariff policy in February, the Court of International Trade said hundreds of importers were eligible for refunds on the billions in tariffs they’ve already paid.

That process is about to get underway.

On Wednesday, Gray Media’s White House correspondent Jon Decker asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the timeline for importers to get their money back.

Jon Decker, White House Correspondent:

“Monday of next week, importers can start requesting claims on tariff refunds. My understanding is $127 million eligible for refunds. What’s that process look like? How can an importer request such a refund?”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

“That’s not being run out of Treasury. He would just be the paymaster. So that’s being run out of CPB.”

Customs and Border Patrol has a web page on tariff refunds:

Jon Decker, White House Correspondent:

“So explain that process. I understand you’re not running it. How does that process actually work if you’re an importer and you paid these tariffs. The Supreme Court found that those tariffs were illegal. What’s the process for them to get back their money back?”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

“They would be in touch with the CPB. And I think the number of you’re quoting is the amount who have already requested refunds. So they are already in the chute. And we will see what the timeline is for that.”

President Trump has often claimed that refunding that money could negatively impact economic growth.

Jon Decker, White House Correspondent:

“What’s the impact of that on the U.S. economy with all of those refunds coming out of the U.S. Treasury?”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

“Again, well, we’ll have to see what comes out. And well we’ll have to see what the companies do with them. You know, just to be clear. Just to be clear, thanks to the Supreme Court, some of this money is going back to China. So is that going to affect the U.S. economy? I don’t know.”

During his “State of the Union” address to Congress back in February, President Trump repeated this claim, “As time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax.”

Just days before that tariff refund process gets underway, President Trump heads out west on Thursday. He’ll first visit Las Vegas to tout his tax policies. And then on Friday, he’ll speak in Phoenix at a Turning Point USA event - aimed at energizing Arizona Republicans for the midterm elections.