“People who speak against tariffs are fools,” Trump wrote, adding that the US economy was flourishing with low inflation and record stock market levels. However, the President did not specify eligibility criteria, income thresholds, or the timeline for the proposed payout.
The promise echoes Trump’s earlier remarks in October, when he hinted at offering Americans a rebate between $1,000 and $2,000.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent distanced himself from the announcement. Speaking to ABC News, Bessent said he had not discussed such a dividend with Trump but suggested the plan could take the form of tax relief. “Our focus remains on paying down the national debt,” he said, referring to the $38.12 trillion federal liability.
Official data indicates that tariff collections totaled only $195 billion in the 2025 fiscal year — far short of the estimated $500 billion required to fund Trump’s proposed dividend for roughly 250 million citizens.
Analysts and economists have warned that such a payout could worsen the fiscal deficit rather than reduce it. A New York Times report noted that distributing direct payments on this scale would far exceed the government’s tariff revenue and could add to the national debt.
Despite growing skepticism, Trump has continued to frame tariffs as a cornerstone of his economic strategy heading into the 2026 election season.
3.jpg)
