In recent years, Donald Trump has earned a reputation for making bold pledges that don’t always fully materialize. Throughout his presidency and the years leading up to it, he has frequently issued sweeping promises that later shifted, stalled, or fell short.

However, one of his newest claims is drawing intense national attention — and it’s a promise Americans are unlikely to overlook: a proposed $2,000 dividend for nearly every citizen.

According to Trump, the funds would come from revenue generated by his controversial tariff agenda. He stated that these payments would be distributed to all Americans who are not considered “high income.”

Last week on Truth Social, Trump wrote:

“People that are against tariffs are FOOLS! With almost no inflation and a record stock market price. 401k’s are highest EVER. We are taking in trillions of dollars and will soon begin paying down our enormous debt, $37 trillion. Record investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place.”

He continued: “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone.”

Despite the dramatic announcement, Trump did not provide a clear timeline or explain who would qualify for the payment and who would be excluded. Those details — or the lack of them — sparked widespread questions about the plan’s feasibility.

Key Obstacles

The Guardian outlined significant hurdles facing the proposal, beginning with its sheer cost. Estimates suggest the total price tag could range from $300 billion to more than $500 billion, depending on eligibility rules and whether children are included.

Economist Erica York noted:
“If the cutoff is $100,000, 150 million adults would qualify, for a cost near $300 billion. … Adjusting for that, tariffs have raised $90 billion of net revenues compared to Trump’s proposed $300 billion rebate.”

Another major challenge involves the legality of the tariffs themselves — the very revenue source for the proposed payments. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding the administration’s use of emergency powers to impose the tariffs, after multiple lower courts ruled the approach unlawful. If the Court ultimately strikes down the tariffs, the entire dividend proposal could collapse.

A Possible Timeline

Despite the uncertainties, Trump offered an update late last week, indicating that payouts would not begin until 2026.

“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,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to The New York Post.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also tempered expectations during an interview on Fox Business, saying: “We will see. We need legislation for that.”

Trump has made many ambitious promises over the years, but this one stands out. Americans may not remember every policy pledge — but a direct, specific promise of a $2,000 cash payment is far harder to forget.

Whether he ultimately follows through remains to be seen.