President Donald Trump on Tuesday told CNBC that he will gratefully "remember" U.S. companies that do not seek refunds for the tariffs he unilaterally imposed, which the Supreme Court later ruled were illegal.
Trump's comment on "Squawk Box" came a day after U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened a portal for importers to seek more than $160 billion in potential refunds for the so-called IEEPA tariffs.
He was asked about a number of large companies, among them Apple and Amazon, that have not filed requests for refunds for the tariffs they paid, potentially because they are worried about "offending" Trump.
Asked if he would find it offensive for them to seek a refund, Trump said, "Brilliant if they don't do that."
"Actually, if they don't do that, they got to know me very well," he said. "I'm very honored by what you just said."
"If they don't do that, I'll remember them," Trump said.
The president again complained about the 6-3 Supreme Court decision that voided those tariffs. That ruling, he griped, did not include a sentence that said, "You don't have to pay back tariffs that have already been received."
"So, I'm not happy with the Supreme Court, I'll be honest with you," Trump said.
