Donald Trump is no stranger to big promises, but his latest claim might take things to a whole new level. The former president recently suggested he could hand out $2,000 to tens of millions of Americans, funded entirely by tariff revenue. The post, made on Truth Social, left many questioning the logistics—and the math—behind such a bold pledge.
Trump wrote: “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.” But that’s where clarity ends. He didn’t specify a timeline, eligibility criteria, or what exactly counts as “high income.”
He also praised his tariff policies as a massive economic victory: “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, 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.”
Sounds great—but the numbers don’t quite add up. Analysts warn that a $2,000 payout could cost between $300 billion and $513 billion, depending on how many adults and children are eligible. Economist Erica York pointed out:
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