President Donald Trump recently said he wants to send every American a $2,000 stimulus check, which would be paid from the revenue produced from tariffs he ramped up in 2025.
Despite President Trump’s repeated recent comments saying Americans will get $2,000 stimulus checks from tariff revenue, Congress hasn’t seen significant momentum to pass legislation granting the checks, USA TODAY reported.
In 2020, Congress approved a COVID-19 stimulus package under Trump that included $1,200 per person. A second appropriation in December 2020 included $600 per person.
In 2021, Congress approved a COVID-19 relief package under then President Joe Biden that included $1,400 stimulus checks for most Americans.
Here’s what to know about the stimulus proposal.
Is Trump giving out stimulus checks?
No, while Trump has renewed suggestions of a stimulus check from tariff revenue, it’s unlikely Americans will be getting checks any time soon.
The president alone doesn’t have the power to issue stimulus checks — that requires legislative action from Congress, where Republicans have a narrow majority in both houses.
Though a bill has been put forth in Congress, it hasn’t gained much traction and is not expected to become law soon.
What did Trump say about the stimulus proposal?
In a Nov. 9 Truth Social post, Trump touted the tariffs and how they’ve brought in revenue for the U.S. economy. He proposed giving out $2,000 stimulus checks to Americans, except those with high income levels, according to the post.
“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. A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump said in the post.
Trump then again said in Nov. 10 Oval Office remarks that his administration would send out stimulus checks.
“We’re going to issue a dividend to our middle income people and lower-income people of about $2,000 and we’re going to use the remaining tariffs to lower our debt, we’re going to be lowering our debt, which is a national security thing,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon.
Where does Congress stand on the stimulus proposal?
Despite Trump’s post, Congress doesn’t appear to share his enthusiasm for the idea.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, introduced the American Worker Rebate Act in July, which would have seen checks of at least $600 issued per person to U.S. residents from tariff revenue, according to a news release.
The bill was introduced shortly after Trump had signaled support for the idea, saying, “We’re thinking about a rebate,” but said he was prioritizing the national debt.
However, the bill has stalled since it was referred to the Senate Finance Committee in July, according to Congress.gov.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: President Trump is proposing stimulus checks. Will the money come soon?
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi and Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
