So far, tariffs have generated roughly $195.9 billion total, nowhere close to what would be needed to fund nationwide dividend checks.
But Trump doesn’t seem deterred. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he doubled down: “It will be next year… The tariffs allow us to give a dividend. We’re going to do a dividend, and we’re also going to be reducing debt.”
Stimulus checks — direct payments sent by the federal government to Americans during times of economic hardship — were last distributed in 2021, with millions receiving up to $1,400 under the American Rescue Plan.
For now, Americans will just have to wait and see whether these “tariff dividends” become real money — or stay in the political-promise category.
