Key takeaways
- President Donald Trump on Sunday again raised the possibility of a tariff dividend for Americans.
- In a message on Truth Social, Trump suggested that a check could be worth “at least” $2,000 per person, although “high-income” people would not be eligible.
The president says he still wants to find money for tariffs.
President Donald Trump, in a Sunday morning message on Truth Social, said a “dividend of at least $2,000 per person” would be paid to “everyone.” More details about timing and eligibility were not immediately available, and the White House did not respond to emailed questions in time for publication, but Trump in his message said “high-income” people would not receive the payment.
“People who are against tariffs are DUMB! We are now the richest and most respected country in the world, with almost no inflation and a record stock price,” Trump’s message said. In a Sunday interview with CBS, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had not discussed the proposal with Trump, but suggested the dividend could emerge as a result of the administration’s policies, coming “in many forms and in many ways.”
Why this is important to Americans
President Trump and other leaders continue to talk about sending money directly to Americans; some states are already doing this in different ways. It remains an open question whether and in what form federal checks will arrive.
Trump’s statement advanced a notion that has circulated in different forms this year, with members of Congress sometimes discussing the possibility of stimulus checks. New York State is sending “inflation rebate” checks to some residents.
The president himself has discussed the issue, although a payment equal to or greater than $2,000 would be higher than some amounts he has mentioned. Earlier this year, the idea of “DOGE dividends” was also floated.
The Supreme Court last week heard oral arguments in a case that raised questions about Trump’s authority to impose tariffs in the form his administration adopted in his second administration.
The case has raised questions not only about presidential power but also about what could happen if some of Trump’s tariffs are overturned on legal grounds, injecting new uncertainty into the outlook for businesses, economists and investors as the fourth quarter enters its final stretch.
US stock markets fell last week, dragged down in part by trade issues, although concerns about the labor market and high stock valuations, as well as doubts about the future of interest rates, also played a role.
This article has been updated since it was first published to incorporate Bessent’s comments and other information.
