• Senator Josh Hawley’s plan to return tariff revenues to working families through $600 rebates has sparked swift backlash across ideological lines — with both fiscal conservatives and liberals on X accusing the Missouri Republican of peddling a debt-fueled gimmick amid mounting national deficits.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — Senator Josh Hawley’s proposal to distribute $600 tariff rebate checks to nearly all Americans has drawn scathing criticism online, as economists, conservatives, and liberals alike blasted the Missouri Republican’s plan as fiscally reckless and politically contradictory.

Hawley’s Rebate Pitch

Unveiled earlier this week, Hawley’s legislation would mirror the 2020 CARES Act’s direct payments structure, giving $600 per adult and dependent child — totaling $2,400 for a family of four. The funds would, he said, come from revenue generated by President Trump’s tariff regime.

“Americans deserve a tax rebate after four years of Biden policies that have devastated families’ savings and livelihoods,” Hawley said.

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The plan seeks to capitalize on the surplus created by new tariffs under Trump’s “Liberation Day” strategy and redirect that windfall to U.S. citizens.

Economists, Conservatives Cry Foul

Critics were quick to point out the fiscal contradictions. Jessica Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, posted on X:

“So a government drowning in trillion-dollar deficits borrows $150 billion more at 4.5% interest rates that taxpayers will be paying forever, in order to compensate us for higher prices that they deny are actually resulting from the tariffs.”

She added:

“Instead of using some debt-ridden gimmick to address the pain of the tariffs, why not just repeal the tariffs?”

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Others echoed that line of thinking. One commenter sarcastically noted, “I thought consumers weren’t paying the tariffs,” referencing President Trump’s claims that foreign governments bear the cost.

MAGA Voters Push Back

Even Trump supporters questioned the logic, with the phrase “pay down the debt” trending soon after the announcement.

“Only when the national debt is zero should any American expect another check from the government,” one commenter wrote.

“DC is really out of touch with reality. $600 doesn’t change anyone’s life,” another posted.

Progressive observers joined in, mocking MAGA’s late-breaking fiscal concern.

“Your bankrupted felon blew up the debt last time, & you somehow thought he wouldn’t do it again?” one wrote “All he does is spend money.”

Is Hawley offering relief — or doubling down on Washington’s addiction to deficit spending?

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