Fact Check: Josh Hawley says the legislation he's proposing will send $600 tariff rebate checks to Americans, but not to "Biden voters": "This is going to the Trump blue-collar voters"

Fact-Check: Josh Hawley's Claim About Tariff Rebate Checks

What We Know

Senator Josh Hawley recently proposed legislation that aims to provide $600 tariff rebate checks to certain Americans. In an interview, he explicitly stated that these checks would not be available to "Biden voters," but rather would be directed towards "Trump blue-collar voters." He emphasized that the rebates would be funded by tariff revenues and would target working-class individuals who supported former President Trump. According to The Independent, Hawley remarked, “You wouldn’t give it to everybody, you’d give it to the working people,” and further clarified that the wealthy, including "Democrat donors of Wall Street," would not be eligible for these rebates. The proposed legislation, known as the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, was introduced on July 28, 2023, and aims to provide refundable tax credits to families, with a phase-out for higher income levels (Yahoo News).

Analysis

Hawley's statements regarding the exclusion of "Biden voters" from the proposed rebate checks are clear and consistent across multiple reports. He has articulated a vision for the legislation that prioritizes individuals who he believes have been adversely affected by the Biden administration's policies. The language he uses suggests a deliberate targeting of a specific voter demographic, which aligns with his political strategy of appealing to Trump's base (Fox 13 Seattle).

However, the reliability of Hawley's claims about the funding and implementation of these rebates requires scrutiny. While he asserts that the rebates will be funded by tariff revenues, it is important to note that tariffs can lead to increased prices for consumers. This means that any rebate checks provided may be offset by higher costs of goods resulting from the tariffs themselves (The Independent). Furthermore, the assertion that the checks will specifically benefit "Trump blue-collar voters" raises questions about the fairness and inclusivity of the proposed legislation, as it appears to discriminate based on political affiliation.

The sources reporting on this claim, including major news outlets such as Yahoo News and The Independent, are generally considered reliable, though they may have varying editorial slants. The framing of Hawley's comments in these articles does suggest a critical stance towards his exclusionary remarks, which could influence reader perception.

Conclusion

The claim that Josh Hawley is proposing $600 tariff rebate checks specifically for "Trump blue-collar voters" and excluding "Biden voters" is True. Hawley's statements are well-documented and reflect his intent to target a specific demographic with his proposed legislation. While the funding mechanism and potential economic implications of the rebates merit further discussion, the essence of his claim regarding the intended recipients of the checks is accurate.

Sources

1. Josh (2000 film) - Wikipedia
2. Sen. Josh Hawley wants to exclude 'Biden voters' from ...
3. Sen. Josh Hawley wants to exclude 'Biden voters' from ...
4. American families could get $2400 rebate checks from tariff ...
5. Senator threatens to exclude these Americans from $600 ...
6. Josh (2000) - IMDb
7. Hawley says he and Trump had 'nice visit' after president ...
8. Sen. Josh Hawley wants to exclude 'Biden voters' from ...