President Trump Faces Backlash After Giving Status Update On The Tariff Dividend Checks

In a fiery Truth Social post last year, Trump argued that tariffs had transformed the U.S. economy, boasting soaring retirement accounts, massive foreign investment and what he described as unprecedented revenue flowing into federal coffers. He claimed those funds would help reduce the national debt and ultimately be returned to Americans in the form of direct payments — excluding high-income earners.

Administration officials later added detail to the plan. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the tariff-driven revenue stream could generate between $100 billion and $150 billion in refunds, potentially translating to checks ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per household. Bessent indicated the earliest timeline for distribution would likely fall in the first quarter of 2026.