Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that Americans will receive at least $2,000 each from tariff revenues, though the proposal would likely require congressional approval. "A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone," Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to Anadolu Agency, the announcement comes as the Supreme Court evaluates the constitutionality of Trump's tariff campaign, amidst a government shutdown that has disrupted food assistance payments. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented on ABC that the proposed $2,000 dividend could be distributed in various forms, potentially including tax decreases such as no tax on tips and no tax on overtime.

Trump defended his trade policy by asserting, "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." He claimed that the tariffs are generating trillions of dollars, which will "soon begin paying down our enormous debt, $37 trillion."

The dividend proposal emerges as the US faces challenges in paying food assistance benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 40th day. For any payment program to proceed, it would require passage by Congress, which currently remains at an impasse over budget negotiations that led to the shutdown.