Trump Promises $2,000 Dividend From Tariff Revenues
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump promised to give dividends of $2,000 to Americans from the revenues collected from his tariff policy.
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On Nov. 9, Trump posted on his social media site that "a dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone." The promise came after he defended his economic policies, saying "People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!"
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was evasive when asked in a Nov. 9 interview if there was a formal proposal for the direct payments, saying that he had not yet spoken to the president about the topic. He said that the dividends could "come in lots of forms in lots of ways," such as Trump's promised tax decreases on "no tax on tips" or overtime.
On Nov. 10, Trump posted again, saying that money "left over" from the payments to "low and middle income USA Citizens" will be used to "SUBSTANTIALLY PAY DOWN NATIONAL DEBT." He said that the income from tariffs "pouring into our Country from foreign countries" is massive and substantial.
It is unclear if Trump has the power to disburse the checks without congressional action.
Trump also took to social media on Nov. 9 to complain about the Supreme Court's recent oral argument about his tariff policy (see 2511050001), saying, "So, let’s get this straight??? The President of the United States is allowed (and fully approved by Congress!) to stop ALL TRADE with a Foreign Country (Which is far more onerous than a Tariff!), and LICENSE a Foreign Country, but is not allowed to put a simple Tariff on a Foreign Country, even for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY."
Trump said it was "ridiculous" for other countries to be able to place tariffs on the U.S. and the U.S. not to be allowed to retaliate, calling it "their DREAM!!!!" He called out the Supreme Court directly, saying, "HAS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOT BEEN TOLD THIS??? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???"
On Nov. 10, Trump posted yet again, saying that the refund amount the government would have to pay back should the Supreme Court rule his tariff scheme illegal is "much higher than those being stated by our Fake Opposition." He said the actual refund total would be "in excess of $2 Trillion Dollars," and blamed "those opposed to us in the United States Supreme Court" for low estimates so that the Court will be duped into thinking "it is easy to get out of this terrible situation that these Anarchists and Thugs have put us into!"