Trump questions his promise to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks

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13 Jan 2026 • 05:00 • 1 min read

Image source: People.com

According to People, President Donald Trump appeared to draw a blank when asked about his earlier promise to send Americans $2,000 rebate checks funded by tariff revenues during an Oval Office interview with The New York Times. The New York Times reporters Katie Rogers and Tyler Pager asked when Americans could expect the checks; Trump replied, "I did do that?

When did I do that?" and later noted, "Well, I did $1,776 for the military." The president pointed to a Dec. 18 announcement that nearly 1.5 million service members would receive a $1,776 "Warrior Dividend" credited to the Big Beautiful Bill, and said the tariff revenue is "so substantial" that he expects to be able to issue $2,000 checks "toward the end of the year." When asked whether Congressional approval would be required, he said, "No, I don't believe we do.

We have it coming in from other sources." The report says the outlet reached out to the White House Press Office for comment. Trump first floated the $2,000 dividend idea in early November on Truth Social, saying the U.S. was taking in "Trillions of Dollars" and that "A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone." Several questions remain.