President Donald Trump’s proposal to use tariff revenue to pay individuals “at least” $2,000 in “dividends” is facing legal and logistical roadblocks. Many are also offering skepticism over political opposition.
Trump Promises $2000 “Tariff Dividend,” Saying Those Who Oppose Tariffs are “Fools”
The first roadblock is that Congress would have to approve the dividends. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said the payments would first have to be passed by Congress before railing against the Biden administration’s handling of inflation, arguing that consumers lost purchasing power.
“But there’s still room to go, and so we are making up ground fast. The fact is, the people are still down about $2,000 relative to what their purchasing power was when Joe Biden took office,” Hassett said during his Monday appearance on Fox News, according to a report by The Hill.
Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs Set To Hit Consumers Hard — From iPhones to Automobiles
A poll published last week from ABC News/The Washington Post/Ipsos found 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs, including 72 percent of independents. Exit polling from last week’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia showed most voters were focused on affordability.
“Mr. Trump is trying to dull the public’s tariff pain with direct payments that he can take credit for. This is a new version of the age-old income redistribution game of taxing people too much but then trying to appease them with tax credits or one-time cash payments,” The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote Monday in a piece criticizing Trump’s “contradictions” on tariffs.
Earlier this year, Trump also mused about using savings from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cost-cutting efforts that slashed the size of the federal government to pay Americans directly. The idea failed to gain traction, however, as Republicans argued that those savings should be allocated toward reducing the debt.
This idea, while likely to resonate with most Americans, will only exacerbate inflation and intensify the cost-of-living crisis.
Do you think these checks will actually get sent? Will it offer the economic relief promised? Or is this just another empty promise from the parasites who claim the right to rule over everyone else and control their money?