WASHINGTON – Senator Elizabeth Warren on Thursday called for former President Donald Trump to “reimburse” American taxpayers for the economic impact of tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last week, a move that dealt a significant blow to his economic agenda. Warren made the remarks during a CNN interview following the Court’s ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when imposing broad tariffs on goods from around the world.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision announced Friday, February 20, 2026, determined that Trump violated federal law by unilaterally imposing the tariffs, according to reports from CNN Español and the Associated Press. The ruling represents a major defeat for the former president, particularly given the conservative lean of the court that had previously sided with him on several key issues, including immigration and spending cuts.
“The president took it upon himself to impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. The court found that the emergency authority Trump cited to justify the tariffs was “insufficient.”
The decision does not address the fate of over $130 billion in tariffs already collected, a point Warren emphasized during her interview. “The American people have been paying the price for these illegal tariffs for far too long,” she stated. “Now, Donald Trump should be held accountable and reimburse those who were harmed.”
The ruling has prompted questions about the future of trade agreements and the potential for new tariffs. According to reporting from The New York Times en Español, the decision leaves open the possibility of Trump imposing tariffs under other legal authorities, though those avenues may be more limited.
Trump, upon receiving news of the ruling while meeting with governors at the White House, reportedly expressed his displeasure. The Associated Press reported that Trump has vowed to implement new tariffs if re-elected.
The case centered on tariffs imposed under a law granting emergency powers to the president. The Court’s decision affirmed that the power to impose tariffs rests with Congress, as outlined in the Constitution. Justice Kavanaugh, in a dissenting opinion, argued that the tariffs were “clearly legal” despite constitutional concerns.
The Biden administration has not yet commented on whether it intends to pursue a refund of the collected tariffs. The White House has not released a statement regarding potential next steps, and officials have remained silent on the matter as of Thursday afternoon.
