Elizabeth Warren says Trump delaying tariff refunds would be 'theft in broad daylight'

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter on Tuesday to President Donald Trump demanding he make tariff repayments to the American people, saying a failure to do so “would amount to a theft in broad daylight from each and every American family.”

The Democrat from Massachusetts said Trump's “chaotic" and "illegally collected" tariffs cost the average American household around $1,700 each, citing data from the Congressional Joint Economic Committee.

Her letter comes after the Supreme Court struck down some of President Trump's sweeping tariffs in late February, dealing a significant blow to his second-term agenda. 

The president has been defiant in the face of the 6-3 ruling, insisting he would continue to enact tariffs through unilateral moves and challenging the Court’s authority. He has made no indication that he would consider tariff repayments to the American people. 

Warren wrote in her letter that “no court decision can undo the massive damage your chaotic tariffs have caused, but the Administration has a responsibility to do everything in its power to ensure that it returns the money it illegally took from the American people.”

She asked the President, with whom she has long had a contentious relationship, to announce a refund plan by March 6. 

The senator isn’t alone in her calls for refunds. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, thousands of U.S. companies have sued the federal government, asking for refunds for money lost to tariffs. Among them are Dollar General $DG and FedEx $FDX, which said it took "necessary action to protect the company’s rights as an importer of record to seek duty refunds." FedEx added that it also expected to refund its customers and shippers who paid the tariff charges if it wins in court.

—Joseph Zeballos-Roig contributed to this article.