Trump hit with demand to pay $1,700 to every family in blue state after tariff loss

[turbinetree]

By David Edwards
Published February 20, 2026 4:34 PM ET

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) demanded that President Donald Trump refund the households in his state after the U.S. Supreme Court found that the administration did not have the legal authority to collect $175 billion in tariffs.

"Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof," Pritzker wrote in a letter to Trump on Friday. "This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court Justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional."

"On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois. There are 5,105,448 households in my state, bringing the total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600," the governor continued.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-pritzker-tariff-refunds/

Hey Bessent hate to burst your balloon, besides being an idiot, balloons are smarter .................that tariff BS was our money supporting an illegal act, you know blackmailing countries and by passing trade laws and such.............maybe you should read the fine print..........Pritkzer and maybe Wes Moore, and Newsom will join in the lawsuit.........we are coming............... and November cannot get here fast enough...............

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. So lucky to have him as my governor.

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. Me too

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Best governor of my lifetime.

[SheltieLover]

8. Wish I did

😓

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. I know, and that's a shame.

[SheltieLover]

10. My heart is in the burbs

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. Even though I've lived in the burbs for almost 20 years...

my heart is still in Edgewater. I loved being able to walk to the lake, and I had friends living close by. The neighbors provided a strong support system because I'd lived in the area all my life. I miss all that.

[SheltieLover]

15. I understand.

At least you are a short car ride from there. 😃

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Actually, it's close to an hour because there's no good way to get there.

[SheltieLover]

17. I know, but you're in a better place than me.

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. That's true.

But I'll never stop missing it.

[SheltieLover]

20. Oh I'll bet.

Daughter used to live in Lakeview & walking to delic restaurants & Cubs games was great. I miss it too.

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. I was about three miles north of Wrigley Field.

Too far to walk, but the el eliminated the need to search for parking.

[SheltieLover]

23. Perfect location

Have you thought of moving back there?

[greatauntoftriplets]

24. Many times.

But it's a very desirable neighborhood with house/condo prices to match. I can't afford to go back. The lakefront condos have a great location, but their monthly assessments are about three times higher than what I pay here.

[SheltieLover]

26. I hear you.

I lived in the Fox Valley area & same there. I doubt my mtg pmt here would cover even the taxes on a modest home there.

Well, at least we both have pleasant memories.

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. The Fox Valley is beautiful, though it's getting to be more suburban and less country.

Of course, that's been happening for decades. My father was from Elgin so there was a time when we went there regularly. I can still find the houses that my great-grandfather built. My relatives take up significant real estate in both Mt. Hope and Bluff City.

Memories are good.

[SheltieLover]

30. I lived near S Elgin

I lived in Chgo for 55 yrs. Never once did I ever see a grocery store out of anything.

We had 4" snow & a little ice glaze. No usps, garbage pick up, school for kids, or food in grocery stores for a full three weeks. People were literally stuck sitting in cars on I-55 & I-22 for 22 hours. All because the powers that shouldn't be are too damned cheap to invest in eqpt & supplies to deal with what happens here every winter!

Officials in MS were outraged when citizens suggested they do so.

Believe me, you cannot comprehend the stupidity here.

Nothing at all nice or pretty about this region. Nada. Zilch.

Holding my good memories close while I wait for the repuke plague to pass so I can gtf out of here.

[greatauntoftriplets]

32. Some relative was mayor of S. Elgin, about 100 or more years ago.

Either a great-uncle or his son. Can't recall which.

Unfortunately, the South is notorious for not handling snow well. It's hard enough up here, though the town I live in does a better job than the city.

I hope that you can gtf out of there soon.

[SheltieLover]

33. Cool about your ancestor.

Thx for your well wishes to get out of here.

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. I don't think there was much to S. Elgin when this man was mayor.

He was a farmer, and my great-grandfather also farmed in S. Elgin. Sadly, I've lost touch with any cousins still there. Both Elgin and S. Elgin have grown a lot in recent years.

At least I live in a town that votes Democratic in a Blue State. You're stuck (for now) in a Red State, and I can't even believe what that's like. Don't think that I could live where you do.

[bamagal62]

36. I lived in Andersonville

For 3 years. Voted for Pritzker. Am in Manhattan now. But, boy, do I miss Chicago. Although I love NYC, I have 2 favorite cities:
Tokyo and Chicago.

[greatauntoftriplets]

38. I had some friends in Andersonville.

Also attended the Midsommar Fest down there. I so miss Ann Sather's cinnamon rolls.

[bamagal62]

39. Yum! Ann Sathers!

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. They're so good, too bad they don't sell them via mail.

Just checked because I've had a taste for good cinnamon rolls.

[WarGamer]

2. That would be illegal. Read the decision.

[SunSeeker]

3. There is nothing illegal about Pritzker demanding Trump pay money to his constituents.

Trump can say no, but Pritzker can make the demand.

[WarGamer]

4. the demand isn't illegal

Sending a check to Americans would be illegal. The tariff money, by law must be returned ONLY to the importer

[SunSeeker]

7. Sending checks to Americans is not illegal.

Yes, tarriff refunds go to the importer who directly paid them, like a tax refund.

But if the President determines that a group of Americans are particularly hard hit with monetary damages by circumstances beyond their control (as the home of Detroit's big 3 certainly is as a result of Trump’s tariffs), the President could send money from various emergency/relief funds to help those people get back on their feet. He already did that for farmers (who paid no tariffs). https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/08/trump-administration-announces-12-billion-farmer-bridge-payments-american-farmers-impacted-unfair#:~:text=Emergency%20Commodity%20Assistance%20Program%20(ECAP,sorghum%2C%20and%20other%20row%20crops.

Note that Pritzker refers to the $8,679,261,600 total as "damages" ( "...total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600..." ). Pritzker is no dummy.

[WarGamer]

11. From an accounting angle it's nuts...

Basically the Gov't would be paying twice, digging deeper into deficit.

Paying back the tariffs to enrich WalMart and Best Buy...

And then cutting checks for stimulus (damages)... that's putting more cash into the system then was there pre-tariffs

[mopinko]

12. walmart and best buy didnt pay them. their customers did.

if they can prove they swallowed them, fine. but they didnt.

[SunSeeker]

18. Everything Trump does is nuts. This would be one of the least nuts things.

At least it would be helping regular people who are hurting, unlike his tax cuts for the rich, which is what really blew up the deficit.

The deficit is not one of our top worries right now anyway; surviving the next 3 years is.

Take this for what it is, Pritzker is publicizing the damage Trump’s illegal tariffs have done.

[Dave says]

14. Where is this law you speak of?

Was that in the decision?

I believe Congress would have to authorize any “refund” to anyone, unless it was spelled out in the decision, no?

[Ilikepurple]

35. I'm guessing you didn't read the three opinions and two concurrences either?

I theirs is no mention of refunds in any of them, so whatever law you are relying on isn’t in the opinion. It makes sense since the issue before the Court which I believe was does the IEEPA authorize the President to set tariffs on an emergency basis, not who gets refunded and how. Kavanaugh goes into the logistics and impacts of refunds, but I know you’re not citing conjecture in dicta in a dissent as law?

[hamsterjill]

21. This is brilliant!

So what is Trump going to do now? Say that he can't find the money to pay back the families? How is he going to rave against Pritzker when Pritzker is advocating for middle class Americans to receive a check that Trump has already pretty much promised? He's going to criticize Pritzker for wanting Trump to do as he said he would? Won't that make him have to admit his tariff's aren't working? Will he finally issue those tariff checks?

Interesting move by the Governor, who I think is awesome!

[Walleye]

27. The money has to be given back, it was collected illegally. He should be beat up the way ICE beat

Immigrants for any minor infraction, citizens just watching. Trump collects billions of dollars illegally and has no consequence from it. Should be out of his own pocket.

[leftstreet]

28. DURec

[gab13by13]

31. The money is probably in a bank in Qatar,

I doubt that Krasnov put it in the treasury.

[MichMan]

37. So, Trump will issue "tariff refund" checks with his name on them right before the midterms