Former President Donald Trump outlined a bold plan on Truth Social to fund a nationwide dividend through tariffs. He promised:
“A dividend of at least $2,000 per person (excluding high-income earners) will be paid to everyone.”
How the Plan Works
Trump’s strategy is straightforward: tax foreign imports, generate revenue, and return some of it to Americans.
People that are against tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the richest, most respected country in the world, with almost no inflation, and a record stock market price.” He argued:
Additionally, how the money would be distributed remains unclear. Options include tax rebates or healthcare credits, but no official framework exists yet.
n a recent Truth Social post, President Donald Trump promised that:
“A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone”.
This nationwide dividend, which he suggested might arrive around mid-2026, would be funded by the revenue generated from his extensive tariff policies.
Key Details of the Proposal:
- Dividend Amount: The proposed payment is a one-time dividend of at least $2,000 per person.
- Eligibility: The payments would go to low- and middle-income Americans, with “high income people” excluded. Specific income thresholds for eligibility have not been officially outlined, though some analysts suggest a model similar to past federal aid (e.g., individuals earning under $75,000, couples under $150,000).
- Funding Source: The funds would come from the revenue collected via tariffs on imported goods, which Trump claims are bringing in “trillions of dollars”.
- Use of Remaining Funds: After the dividend payments, any remaining tariff revenue would be directed towards paying down the national debt.
Current Status and Hurdles:
The proposal is currently just that—a proposal. To be implemented, it would require new legislation and approval from Congress, where it has received a cool response from some Republicans who prefer using any tariff revenue for deficit reduction.
Additionally, economic experts and budget analysts note a significant disparity between the potential cost of the dividend program (estimated at $300 billion to $600 billion, depending on eligibility) and the actual revenue generated by current tariffs (projected to be around $207.5 billion in 2026). This suggests that funding both the dividends and meaningful debt reduction solely through current tariff revenue is highly unlikely.
