According to President Donald Trump’s promise, Americans are now closer to receiving $2,000 stimulus checks as we’ve entered the new year.
Trump promised these stimulus checks in a Nov. 9 post on Truth Social in which he raved about the success of American tariffs and wrote that a “dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”
The reality of these checks has since been uncertain, with members of the Trump administration and Congress offering contrasting points of view on the possibility of these checks.
However, Trump has pointed to a timeframe in 20206 when he said Americans can expect a $2,000 tariff dividend. So, what did he say?
When does the $2,000 stimulus check come?
In mid-November, Trump vowed to issue dividend checks sometime in 2026, before the midterms. The payments require Congressional approval, however, which isn’t guaranteed.
Is Trump really giving out stimulus checks?
Trump administration officials have confirmed the president’s commitment to sending out $2,000 tariff payments to most Americans over the last several months. Regardless of this, obstacles to the stimulus checks remain. The checks would require Congressional approval, and many members of Congress, including fellow Republicans, don’t express strong support for the idea. Instead, many members of Congress would rather spend tariff revenue on decreasing the national debt.
Who will get Trump $2,000 stimulus checks?
On Nov. 17, Trump vowed to issue dividend checks to “individuals of moderate income.” Who that entails is unclear.
Pew Research Center defines the 2024 middle class as households earning $55,820 to $167,460, based on the national median income.
With previous federal stimulus checks, individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000 received full payments.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave an idea of who might receive the checks during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Nov. 12.
“The president’s talking about a $2,000 rebate, and that would be for families making less than, say, $100,000,” he said on the Fox News Channel. Bessent added that this is still under discussion.
USA TODAY Network reporter Maria Francis and USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Is Trump giving out $2,000 stimulus checks in 2026?
Reporting by Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
