WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) – President Donald Trump on Sunday posted on Truth Social that tariffs on foreign goods will lead to “a dividend” of $2,000 per person or even more.
“A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump said in a post that began: “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!”
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When asked about Trump’s comments in an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that while an initial result of tariffs is to generate a surge of revenue for the government, the long-term goal is to “rebalance trade” by restoring manufacturing to the United States.
The increase in manufacturing would lead to a decline in tariff revenue, Bessent said, but would bolster tax revenue.
“It’s not about taking in the revenue. It’s about rebalancing,” Bessent said.
Host George Stephanopoulos asked Bessent about Trump’s dividend vow, and Bessent hedged a little bit, suggesting the dividend, for which there is not a specific proposal, could show up in different types of economic benefits.
“I haven’t spoken to the president about this yet,” he said.
“The $2,000 dividend could come in lots of forms and lots of ways, George,” he added.
Bessent suggested that the dividend could take the form of paying for “the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president’s agenda,” citing the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, among other things.
