Trump announces $2,000 dividend for ‘Most Americans’

CALIFORNIA – President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social app, November 9, that most Americans will receive a “tariff dividend” of at least $2,000 per person, funded from federal import-tariff revenues.

“A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump said.

In a September update, the Treasury Department said it had collected $195 billion in customs-duty revenue for fiscal year 2025.

The dividend payment plan still needs congressional approval, and Trump previously said he’d prefer the tariff money go toward the national debt.

Previous rebate or dividend proposals

The announcement comes months after Senator Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act, which he said would provide a minimum $600 rebate per adult or dependent child (so a family of four could get $2,400), funded by tariff-revenues.

DOGE senior advisor Elon Musk also floated the idea of a $5,000 “dividend” check for households, based on savings produced by his proposed government cost-cutting initiative – the “DOGE Dividend.”

Neither proposal has progressed.

California projects $16 billion revenue loss from tariffs

While California’s Department of Finance projects a $16 billion revenue loss from current tariffs, the proposed federal tariff dividend could help offset the impact for residents.

Californians who qualify may get $2,000 each, easing the impact of higher costs and trade-related pressures on the state’s economy.