Trump Proposes Tariff-Funded $1,000–$2,000 Rebates

President Donald Trump said in an interview he is weighing issuing rebate checks of roughly $1,000 to $2,000 to Americans, calling the payments a “dividend to the people” and proposing to fund them with tariff revenue. Reporting and administration data put tariff receipts at roughly $214.9 billion year-to-date and suggest they could reach at least $300 billion by year-end, though Trump has at times projected revenues as high as $1 trillion. The plan would require congressional approval and has drawn warnings from economists and business groups that tariffs are ultimately paid by U.S. importers and consumers, not foreign firms. The proposal comes as the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month on the legality of sweeping global tariffs, and analysts say an adverse ruling could force refunds of hundreds of billions. Trump made the comments amid a partial government shutdown and warned prolonged shutdowns could lead to federal worker firings or cuts to favored projects.