Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025.

President Donald Trump has floated the idea of sending $2,000 tariff dividend checks to Americans and his treasury secretary said Sunday, Nov. 16 "we will see" if that plan will actually come to fruition.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that the administration would "need legislation for that" when asked about the checks, adding that the checks "could go out." Bessent also said the checks would be for "working families."

Trump recently suggested the possibility of checks from tariff revenue. "A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone," he posted Nov. 9 on Truth Social.

Three days later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the president's support for the dividends when asked about it on Nov. 12. "The White House is committed to making that happen, yes, and we are currently exploring all legal options to get that done," she said.

Trump broached the idea in July, saying tariff revenue could lead to "a little rebate, but the big thing we want to do is pay down debt."

Trump also floated a similar idea through DOGE

The $2,000 payments would be made "to low and middle income USA Citizens," Trump said Nov. 10 on Truth Social. But taxpayers can be forgiven if they are skeptical of the checks arriving, as this isn't the first time Trump has suggested giving money to Americans. No checks arose from the president's consideration in February of stimulus checks funded by expected savings the cost-cutting efforts of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

That idea came from Azoria investment firm CEO James Fishback, who had lobbied on X for Musk to issue a stimulus check based on the claimed savings. The checks, which would have required approval of Congress, were never issued.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could you get a $2,000 tariff dividend check? Treasury Secretary reacts

Reporting by Gabe Hauari and Mike Snider, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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