President Donald Trump announced Sunday that his administration plans to distribute at least $2,000 to every American citizen using funds generated from tariff revenues, a move he described as a “dividend” from his trade policies.
“A dividend of at $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, adding that critics of the tariff plan are “FOOLS!”
This marks the first time the president has attached a specific dollar figure to his proposed payout, while clarifying that higher-income individuals would be excluded.
The proposal, however, would likely require congressional approval before any payments could be issued.
Earlier this year, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a similar plan aimed at distributing $600 in tariff rebates to most Americans and their dependent children.
“My legislation would allow hard-working Americans to benefit from the wealth that Trump’s tariffs are returning to this country,” Hawley said when unveiling the bill.
Trump also emphasized that part of the tariff revenue would be directed toward paying down what he called the nation’s “ENORMOUS” debt.
According to Treasury Department data, the U.S. government collected about $195 billion in tariff duties through the first three quarters of the year.
However, consumers have felt the effects of higher import costs. As of October 17, the average effective tariff rate has reached 18 percent, the highest level since 1934, according to the Yale Budget Lab.
