In a recent Oval Office interview, President Donald Trump appeared to forget a previous promise to issue $2,000 payments to most Americans, a plan he had tied to revenue from tariffs.
The moment became awkward when Katie Rogers of The New York Times reminded him of the pledge.
Trump, who had earlier suggested the checks would be sent out before the 2026 midterm elections, seemed puzzled and asked, “I did do that? When did I do that?”
After a brief pause, he explained that he had been thinking of a different initiative—the $1,776 bonus for service members.
Even so, Trump maintained that the $2,000 payments were still likely to go out later in the year, citing the large amount of tariff revenue he expects the government to collect.
Trump addresses tariff-funded checks for Americans
The pledge to issue $2,000 payments to middle- and lower-income Americans was originally tied to revenue from Donald Trump’s tariffs.
While the exact timeline for the payouts remains unclear, Trump told reporters that the money coming in from tariffs would make the payments possible. “The tariff money is so substantial that’s coming in, that I’ll be able to do 2,000 sometime, I would say, toward the end of the year,” he said.
Still, doubts have been raised about whether there would be enough revenue to support the plan. As per the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, sending $2,000 checks to most Americans would cost approximately $600 billion, which exceeds the tariff revenue expected.
As of September 30, $90 billion had been raised by tariffs, a figure that falls short of the estimated cost for the payouts.
Legal challenges and inflation concerns
The ongoing legal battle over the tariffs could affect whether the promised checks materialize.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule soon on the legality of the tariffs, and if the decision goes against the administration, it could lead to a refund of the tariff revenue.
In addition, the idea of using tariff revenue to fund the checks has raised concerns about inflation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed worries about the inflationary effects of distributing the windfall, urging Americans to save rather than spend the money if it arrives.
Republican lawmakers have also voiced their concerns, noting the potential for tariff-funded payments to exacerbate existing inflation, which, while lower than previous years, remains a concern.
