The tariffs, which started in April 2025, have already brought in more than $214 billion this year. The Treasury Department said the program was designed to increase revenue through higher fees on imports, especially from countries with trade imbalances. Trump, who is 79, said that once the system is fully active, it could bring in over a trillion dollars each year.
He said: “They (tariffs) are just starting to kick in. Ultimately, your tariffs are going to be over a trillion dollars a year.” He added that most of the revenue would go toward paying down the national debt, which now stands at about $37 trillion.
Trump also said he wants Americans to benefit from the success of the program. He said: “We’re thinking maybe $1,000 to $2,000 – it would be great.” He called it a “dividend to the people of America” and said it would help families still struggling with high costs after the pandemic.
The idea faces an uphill battle in Congress. Because the country is politically divided, it’s unclear whether lawmakers will support sending out rebate checks. Still, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has proposed a similar bill called the American Worker Rebate Act, which would provide checks similar to those sent out during the pandemic.
That plan would send at least $600 per adult and child, totaling $2,400 for a family of four. It would also lower payments for higher earners, cutting 5 percent for joint filers who make more than $150,000, heads of household earning over $112,500, and individuals making more than $75,000. The rebates would work as refundable tax credits if approved.
Courts are now reviewing whether the tariffs themselves are legal. In August, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that an emergency powers law did not justify most of the tariffs. Even so, they remain in place until the Supreme Court hears the case in November 2025.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that if the Court finds the tariffs unlawful, the government could have to return between $750 billion and $1 trillion. For now, both Trump’s payment idea and the tariff program’s future depend on what happens next in Congress and the courts.
