Economist Erica York wrote: “If the cutoff is $100,000, 150M adults would qualify, for a cost near $300 billion. … Adjusting for that, tariffs have raised $90 billion of net revenues compared to Trump’s proposed $300 billion rebate.”
The second issue is the legal challenges associated with the tariffs themselves, which is where any and all money for dividends would come from.
Nevertheless, Trump provided an update late last week, suggesting that any dividend payments would have to wait until 2026.
“It will be next year… The tariffs allow us to give a dividend. We’re going to do a dividend and we’re also going to be reducing debt,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One, per The New York Post.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, was asked about the plan during a recent interview with Fox Business, responding: “We will see. We need legislation for that.”
As mentioned, Trump – just as virtually any other politician to walk the earth – has a rich history of failing to live up to promises made. Yet this one may have ramifications beyond the usual.
Promising the people sweeping changes to law, a difficult-to-define cheaper cost of living, and even a huge wall to separate two countries might not leave them ready to riot if it can be argued that you haven’t delivered.
Promising the people – in your own words, no less – $2,000 each is not something they’re likely to forget anytime soon.
Do you think Trump will make good on his promise? Let us know in the comments.
