Trump announces a planned $2,000 “tariff dividend” check for most Americans

Trump on Sunday announced that every American, except high-income earners, would receive a $2,000 “tariff dividend” check, claiming the funds would come straight from the money his administration is collecting through tariffs.

The statement was posted on Truth Social, where the president defended his trade policies, criticized opponents, and said the U.S. is now pulling in trillions from import taxes.

Trump said, “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!” and claimed that tariffs have made the U.S. “the richest, most respected country in the world, with almost no inflation, and a record stock market price.”

Trump also said the country’s retirement accounts are at all-time highs and insisted the $37 trillion U.S. debt would soon start going down because of revenue from tariffs.

He did not give a date for when these dividend payments would begin or how they’d be distributed, but he claimed that plants and factories are being built “all over the place” as a result of increased foreign investment.

Trump later posted that:-

“So, let’s get this straight??? The President of the United States is allowed (and fully approved by Congress!) to stop ALL TRADE with a Foreign Country (Which is far more onerous than a Tariff!), and LICENSE a Foreign Country, but is not allowed to put a simple Tariff on a Foreign Country, even for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY. That is NOT what our great Founders had in mind! The whole thing is ridiculous! Other Countries can Tariff us, but we can’t Tariff them??? It is their DREAM!!! Businesses are pouring into the USA ONLY BECAUSE OF TARIFFS. HAS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOT BEEN TOLD THIS??? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???President DJT”

Tariffs squeeze small businesses across the U.S.

While Trump credits tariffs for boosting government income, small business owners across the U.S. say the same policies are putting them under. Unlike large companies that can absorb rising costs, many small businesses are being pushed to the edge.

Eunice Byun, CEO of Material Kitchen, said the complexity of her operations has increased dramatically.

“We’ve definitely taken it on the chin year-over-year in terms of our top line revenue,” Eunice told CNBC, explaining how her company, which sells kitchenware, is struggling to manage supply chains and pricing.

Anjali Bhargava, who owns Anjali’s Cup, a company that sells turmeric and chai blends, also said she can’t afford to stockpile products because of rising costs. “It’s been really frustrating because I don’t have the resources to stockpile,” Anjali said, adding that tariffs are now a threat to her entire livelihood.

The Small Business Administration estimates that 36 million small businesses operate in the U.S., contributing roughly 43% of the national GDP, and many of them are facing the brunt of these trade policies without the kind of insulation larger corporations enjoy.

Supreme Court challenges tariff power as Trump targets more countries

The Supreme Court is now looking into whether Trump’s heavy use of emergency powers under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify the tariffs is even legal.

The Court hasn’t ruled yet, but if it decides against Trump, the U.S. average tariff rate could drop to 6.5%, a number not seen since before his April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement.

That move had added new tariffs on dozens of countries, with India, China, Brazil, and even Switzerland among those targeted.

In a temporary agreement reached last week between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S. agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports by 10% and hold off on more increases for a year.

But even with that pause, tensions remain, especially over both countries’ tight grips on certain key exports. The trade standoff isn’t expected to go away anytime soon.

Chinese state media reported that some researchers believe the Supreme Court won’t completely block Trump’s tariffs, despite some justices questioning their legitimacy.

The same reports cited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the U.S. would keep current tariff levels in place, regardless of what the court ultimately decides.

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