In early December 2025, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump introduced one of his most sweeping economic ideas to date—a national dividend paid directly to millions of Americans and financed entirely through revenue collected from tariffs on imported goods. The concept, shared on his Truth Social platform, immediately ignited intense debate across economic, political, and media landscapes. Analysts, researchers, and everyday citizens began unpacking the implications of the proposal: how it might work, who might benefit, and what it could mean for the nation’s long-term financial stability.
Although Trump has frequently highlighted tariffs as a central piece of his approach to economic strategy, this new dividend plan represents a significant expansion of earlier policies. The former president framed the concept as an effort to redirect financial power from global producers back toward American households. His message asserted that tariffs would serve not only as a tool for trade leverage but also as a substantial revenue stream capable of supporting ongoing financial payouts to millions of qualifying citizens.
According to Trump, the idea revolves around a recurring, government-issued payment—at least $2,000 per eligible person—distributed using funds collected from tariffs levied on imported products. He emphasized that the program would exclude high-income earners, though the specific income thresholds have yet to be identified.