The President’s Proposal Would Distribute Payments From Tariff Revenue, Excluding High-Income Earners, Pending Congressional & Legal Review

Monday, November 10, 2025, 3:45 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that his administration plans to issue a $2,000 “dividend” payment to most American taxpayers, funded directly from federal tariff revenues collected on imported goods.

     In a Saturday post on his social media platform, the president announced that the dividend would be sent to “everyone” except those he called “high-income people,” claiming it would reward Americans for supporting his trade policies.6

     “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump wrote. “People who are against Tariffs are FOOLS!”

     The announcement quickly drew attention across the political spectrum, as analysts and lawmakers questioned the feasibility, legality, and logistics of distributing direct payments tied to tariff collections.

Who Would Receive The Payment;

     According to the president’s statement, most middle- and lower-income Americans would qualify for the proposed dividend. However, no income threshold or eligibility guidance has yet been defined by the White House or the Treasury Department.

     The administration has not clarified whether dependents, retirees, or non-filing taxpayers would be eligible, or whether the distribution would be modeled after prior pandemic-era stimulus payments. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has since suggested that the proposal could take several forms, a combination of cash payments and targeted tax credits.

     “The $2,000 dividend could come in lots of forms, in lots of ways,” Bessent said.

How The Plan Would Work;

     The president’s proposal hinges on tariff revenues, money collected from duties imposed on imported goods under his administration’s aggressive trade agenda.

     While the U.S. Treasury currently holds roughly $195 billion in tariff revenue for fiscal year 2025, economists warn that distributing payments at the scale proposed could exceed available funds if eligibility encompasses most of the working population. A $2,000 payment to approximately 150 million adults would total about $300 billion, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability.

     The Treasury Department has not yet released a plan for distribution, verification, or oversight. Any such program would likely require congressional authorization, as existing law does not permit the executive branch to redirect tariff income directly to individuals without legislative approval.

Timing And Implementation;

For now, the initiative remains a proposal rather than an enacted policy. No enabling legislation has been introduced, and no date has been set for any potential payments.

     Legal challenges could also delay or derail the plan. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the administration’s authority to unilaterally impose broad tariffs on foreign imports, a key component of the proposed dividend fund.

Some White House officials have indicated that, if approved, the payments could be distributed through the Internal Revenue Service using existing tax-return data, similar to previous stimulus rounds. Others have suggested that the payments might instead appear as refundable tax credits or rebates applied to 2025 returns.

Political And Economic Reactions;

     The announcement drew a swift reaction from both supporters and critics. Republican allies praised the proposal as a populist move returning money “to the people who built America’s strength.” At the same time, several Democratic lawmakers denounced it as “an election-year gimmick without fiscal grounding.”

     Economists remain divided on the impact. Supporters argue the payments could provide short-term relief and strengthen consumer spending. Critics warn it may stoke inflation and reduce available tariff revenue intended for deficit reduction.

     The White House has also floated the idea that remaining tariff funds, after dividend payments, could be directed toward paying down the national debt, though details remain vague.

     President Trump’s proposal to deliver a $2,000 dividend to most taxpayers represents one of the boldest redistributive concepts of his administration. Yet, without congressional approval, clear income thresholds, or a defined funding mechanism, the plan remains aspirational, a political promise still awaiting legal and logistical definition.

Editor’s Note:

All reporting for this article is based on official statements from President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and reporting from ABC News, TIME, The New York Post, and The Los Angeles Times as of November 10, 2025. Verified data on tariff revenue sourced from U.S. Treasury Department reports. Englebrook Independent News strives for factual, balanced, and transparent coverage of all government policy announcements. Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor.