Trump’s use of the word “dividend” is not accidental. A dividend, in the financial world, is a payment issued to shareholders based on the profits of a company. By using that term, Trump is framing the American people not simply as taxpayers, but as stakeholders—as individuals who are entitled to a share of revenue generated by national economic policy.

Symbolically, it positions Trump as someone sharing the nation’s success with ordinary Americans. Strategically, it sets the stage for a political narrative centered on direct benefit—something citizens will remember long after speeches and debates fade. But practically, it raises major questions:

• Is tariff revenue stable enough to fund such payments?

• Can the government legally distribute money this way?

• Would Congress approve a massive payout?

• Who exactly qualifies as “high income” and therefore excluded?

Those questions lead us to the core of the controversy.

The Economics Behind the Promise

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