More from the article ...

... When asked about Trump's comments in an interview on ABC's "This Week," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that while an initial result of tariffs is to generate a surge of revenue for the government, the long-term goal is to "rebalance trade" by restoring manufacturing to the United States. The increase in manufacturing would lead to a decline in tariff revenue, Bessent said, but would bolster tax revenue.

"It's not about taking in the revenue. It's about rebalancing," Bessent said.

Host George Stephanopoulos asked Bessent about Trump's dividend vow, and Bessent hedged a little bit, suggesting the dividend, for which there is not a specific proposal, could show up in different types of economic benefits.

"I haven't spoken to the president about this yet," he said.

"The $2,000 dividend could come in lots of forms and lots of ways, George," he added. ...

@#1 ... "It's not about taking in the revenue. It's about rebalancing," Bessent said. ...

Tariffs look more to me like a weapon that Pres Trump uses against Countries that do things he does not like.

For example, tariffs on Canada because the leader of a province of Canada ran a TV ad that correctly quoted fmr Pres Reagan.

For example, tariffs on Brazil because Brazil's judicial system put an ally of Pres Trump in jail.

etc. , etc. ...

... "A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone," ...

OK, some simple math here.

Presumptions:

US Population: 342,000,000
US population minus the 10-15% or so ~high-income~ folk: 300,000,000

OK, let's go ...

300,000,000 times $2,000 per person is $600,000,000,000 ($600 billion).

Tariff collection so far in 2025 has been around $200 billion.

So, where will that other $400 billion come from?