Howard Lutnick Gives Americans A Major Update On $2,000 Tariff Checks

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Monday that the Trump administration is poised to win its high-stakes trade fight at the Supreme Court, insisting the White House’s tariff blitz is essential to shielding U.S. manufacturers from cut-rate foreign competitors.

“Tariffs are going to be a part of this administration’s national security and national economic protection of the American people,” Lutnick told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria.”

“We are gonna win the case, it’s pretty clear,” he said, noting he sat in on the arguments at the Supreme Court.

Pressed on what tools President Donald Trump could use if the justices rule against the administration, Lutnick said Trump has “all sorts of policies and tools” at his disposal. He pointed to Sections 232, 301, and 338 of U.S. trade law, which allow the government to levy tariffs or restrict imports for national security reasons or to counter unfair foreign practices.

Lutnick spoke from Brussels, where he met with European lawmakers to push Trump’s trade agenda. He said tariffs remain a central pillar of the administration’s economic strategy.

“One of the ways to prove to the American people how great tariffs are is to have them share in a part of one year’s income from these tariffs and that’s $2,000 a head for people who need the money,” he said.

WATCH:

Trump floated the idea of sending out a $2,000 tariff-funded dividend on Nov. 9 to low- and middle-income Americans. He later mused about using leftover funds to chip away at the nation’s staggering $38 trillion debt. The former president has said the money could hit mailboxes in mid-2026.

Since Trump rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, revenue has surged — jumping from $23.9 billion in May to $28 billion in June and $29 billion in July. Total tariff revenue reached $215.2 billion in fiscal 2025, according to the Treasury Department.

The cash keeps piling up. The government collected $40.4 billion in the first month of fiscal 2026 alone.

Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday brushed off fears that a one-time $2,000 payout would stoke inflation.

“This is not some kind of ongoing new welfare program or something that would exacerbate inflation,” Greer told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

He added that while families will welcome the checks, he doesn’t expect the payments to shift the overall economic picture.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>