Trump vows to give $2,000 to almost everyone in the US – here’s who won’t be eligible

Donald Trump is no stranger to big promises, but his latest claim might take things to a whole new level. The former president recently suggested he could hand out $2,000 to tens of millions of Americans, funded entirely by tariff revenue. The post, made on Truth Social, left many questioning the logistics—and the math—behind such a bold pledge.

Trump wrote: “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.” But that’s where clarity ends. He didn’t specify a timeline, eligibility criteria, or what exactly counts as “high income.”

He also praised his tariff policies as a massive economic victory: “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. 401k’s are Highest EVER. We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place.”

Sounds great—but the numbers don’t quite add up. Analysts warn that a $2,000 payout could cost between $300 billion and $513 billion, depending on how many adults and children are eligible. Economist Erica York pointed out:

“If the cutoff is $100,000, 150M adults would qualify, for a cost near $300 billion. … Tariffs have raised $90 billion of net revenues compared to Trump’s proposed $300 billion rebate.”

In other words, the rebate could cost more than three times what the tariffs have actually brought in. And that’s without considering ongoing legal battles: the Supreme Court recently heard cases challenging Trump’s emergency powers to impose tariffs, after lower courts already ruled the approach illegal. If the tariffs are overturned, any potential dividend disappears entirely.

So what does this all mean for Americans? While the idea of a surprise $2,000 bonus is enticing, the reality is far from certain. Many details—eligibility, timing, funding—are still missing, making it more of a hopeful promise than a concrete plan. And for those labeled as “high income,” it’s probably safe to assume that money won’t be landing in their accounts.

The takeaway: A $2,000 payout sounds exciting, but the numbers, legality, and logistics make it extremely unlikely—at least in the near term.

What do you think? Could Trump really deliver on this, or is it just another headline designed to grab attention? Share your thoughts in the comments below!