How long would it take to pay for Trump's $2,000 dividends?

President Donald Trump said his administration will send low- and middle-income Americans $2,000 dividends using revenue generated from his tariffs, but can the government afford it?

Trump's tariffs are projected to raise $300 billion per year, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which estimates Trump's promise to pay Americans dividends would cost about $600 billion. This means it would take two years per $2,000 payment, starting in 2027. If the Supreme Court agrees with lower court rulings that the majority of Trump's tariffs are unconstitutional, it would take closer to seven years to pay $2,000 dividends using the remaining tariffs not affected by this decision, according to the committee.
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cast doubt on the idea that Americans would receive checks, saying the dividend "could come in lots of forms."