Unlocking Trump’s $2K Tariff Rebate: What It Means for Your Wallet and the Economy

President Donald Trump recently suggested distributing $2,000 to most Americans, funded by tariff revenues collected by his administration.

In a Sunday social media post, Trump proposed the idea while criticizing opponents of tariffs, labeling them as “fools.”

This concept isn’t entirely new. Back in July, Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, introduced a bill proposing $600 tariff rebates for nearly all Americans and their dependent children. The aim was to allow citizens to reap the benefits of the wealth generated by Trump’s tariffs.

As the government shutdown continues, many are questioning how close we are to its resolution. Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s latest proposal:

What has Trump said about tariff checks?

In addition to the $2,000 rebates, Trump suggested the tariff revenue could also be used to pay down the country’s debt, which, according to the U.S. Treasury, is at nearly $38.12 trillion.

In October, Trump announced his administration was considering sending checks ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

“We’ll pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America,” Trump said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told ABC News on Sunday he had not spoken to the president about the proposal, but that the dividend could come in “lots of forms, in lots of ways” not necessarily in the form of stimulus checks.

“It could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president’s agenda,” Bessent said. “No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. Deductibility of auto loans.”

Who would qualify for tariff rebates?

Trump did not clarify who would qualify for the checks, but wrote that “everyone,” except “high-income people,” would be paid at least $2,000.

The administration did not offer additional details on the proposal, which would likely need congressional approval.

According to its September statement, the Treasury Department had collected $195 billion from tariff duties.

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