Donald Trump Claims Every American Could Get $2,000 — Here’s Who Might Actually Receive It

In true Trump fashion, another bold promise has ignited a mix of excitement, confusion, and skepticism across the nation. The former president has announced that nearly every American could soon receive a $2,000 payment — money he says would come directly from U.S. tariff revenues. His post on Truth Social spread rapidly, sparking hope among struggling families while raising serious questions from economists. But as with many of Trump’s headline-making pledges, the details are vague, the math appears uncertain, and the political implications could be far-reaching. Is this a genuine plan for relief — or simply another attention-grabbing promise?

Trump’s message was short, confident, and designed to resonate. “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone,” he wrote, claiming that America is becoming the “Richest, Most Respected Country in the World” thanks to his tariff policies. He pointed to record stock market highs and renewed U.S. manufacturing as proof of success, asserting that the country is now generating “Trillions of Dollars” from tariffs. Yet, crucial details were missing — such as who would qualify, when payments might be distributed, and how such a plan could function under existing federal law.

Economists across the political spectrum were quick to respond — and few shared Trump’s enthusiasm. Independent estimates suggest the proposal could cost between $300 billion and $513 billion, depending on eligibility criteria. By contrast, total tariff revenue collected during Trump’s presidency amounted to roughly $90 billion, a small fraction of what such payments would require. Erica York, a senior economist at the Tax Foundation, noted that even if tariff revenues were large enough, redirecting them into direct payments would face significant legal obstacles. Courts have already questioned the constitutionality of Trump’s emergency tariff powers, and several cases are now before the Supreme Court. Should those powers be struck down, the financial basis for Trump’s plan would vanish entirely.

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