Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf critiques President Trump's proposal to issue rebate checks funded by tariff revenue, focusing on its legality, economic impact, and policy implications. Professor Dorf argues that while such payments could be legal if authorized by Congress, the plan is economically unsound and politically harmful because it risks increasing inflation, adds to the deficit, and reinforces damaging tariff policies.

Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf examines the legality of the Trump administration’s deals with Nvidia and AMD, which require the companies to pay 15% of AI chip sales made to China to the U.S. government, evaluating whether these payments constitute unconstitutional export taxes. Professor Dorf argues that although the payments function as export taxes—which are barred by the Constitution—the companies are unlikely to challenge them due to fears of political retaliation and economic consequences from the administration.

Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf critiques the Trump administration’s tariff policies and broader economic strategy, arguing that they are misguided in the face of rapidly advancing technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Dorf contends that instead of clinging to outdated protectionist policies, U.S. leadership should focus on preparing for the disruptive impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial super intelligence (ASI) on employment and productivity, a challenge for which Donald Trump is uniquely unqualified.