Donald Trump has announced plans to issue a “Tariff Dividend” of at least $2,000 per person to most Americans, saying the payment will be funded by revenue generated from U.S. import tariffs.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said, “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone.” He described the initiative as part of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that “Americans benefit directly from the country’s success in global trade.”
Trump defended his tariff policies, declaring that the U.S. is “taking in trillions of dollars” from tariffs and calling critics of the policy “fools.” However, economic analysts have raised questions about the feasibility of the proposal, noting that the U.S. Treasury has collected around $195 billion in customs duties so far this year — far less than the estimated $300 billion needed to fund the payout.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later clarified that discussions on the implementation have not yet taken place, suggesting the dividend could come in the form of tax deductions rather than direct cash payments.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters praising the idea as a way to reward citizens from tariff revenues, while critics argue that the plan is politically motivated and financially unrealistic. No official timeline or eligibility criteria for the payout have been released.
