President Donald Trump on Sunday described critics of his tariff strategy as “fools” and pledged that the government will distribute $2,000 dividends to most Americans, paid for by the tariff revenue.
In a post on his social-media platform, Trump wrote: “People that are against tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the richest, most respected country in the world, with almost no inflation and a record stock market price,” adding that “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (“not including high-income people!”) will be paid to everyone.”
According to data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, tariff revenue for fiscal 2025 reached $215.2 billion. Trump said manufacturing plants are seeing “record investment” and the U.S. will soon begin “paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT,” which currently stands just north of $38 trillion.
The remarks come as the Supreme Court of the United States is hearing oral arguments concerning Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs and whether that power exceeds constitutional limits. A federal appeals court previously ruled that Trump overstepped his authority with new tariffs, saying that power lies with Congress under existing trade-frameworks.
Trump’s agenda links the dividend payment directly to the tariffs. He described the tariffs as central to his economic strategy: by boosting revenue from duties on imported goods, the government could distribute payments to Americans and reduce debt, he said.
