As Trump says Americans will get a Tariff 'dividend,' Bessent Disagrees

Monday, November 10, 2025

"A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone," Trump said in a Truth Social post Sunday that began: "People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!"

Posted by LampLighter at 07:33 AM | 25 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent quickly dialed back President Donald Trump's claim that most Americans will receive a $2,000 tariff "dividend."

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-- The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) Nov 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM

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... 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 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 01:06 PM | Reply

"The increase in manufacturing would lead to a decline in tariff revenue, Bessent said, but would bolster tax revenue."

Oh I see. Tax revenue goes down, but tax revenue also goes up.

We're robbing Peter to pay... Peter.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-11-09 01:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#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. ...

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 01:14 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Trump giveth and his tariffs taketh away.

"The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,200 in 2025 and $1,600 in 2026."
taxfoundation.org

#4 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-11-09 02:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Trump hands out pennies while pocketing Billions.

Happy increased inflation!

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-11-09 02:20 PM | Reply

Also. Did Congress approve this?

Who remembers when America had a Congress?

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-11-09 02:22 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#5 inflation doesn't exist if you don't measure it.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2025-11-09 03:35 PM | Reply

And whites will pay reparations for their murders.

#8 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-11-09 03:55 PM | Reply

... "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?

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 06:30 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 5

#9 Cannot Newsworthy this post enough.

#10 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-09 06:35 PM | Reply

If and when the SC overturns -------- use of tariffs, the federal government will have to refund that $200,000,000,000

to corporations

Not to you who spent the money

But to the corporations who imported goods and paid the tariff

So, you and I paid more for goods over the past whatever months to corporations who paid the federal government the tarrifs.

So when tariffs are refunded, they go back to the corporations.

Will the corporations be sending you and me checks?

LOL

Just more transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy

Almost like it was planned

#11 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-11-09 06:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 6

@#11 ... Not to you who spent the money

But to the corporations who imported goods and paid the tariff ...

Just more transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy

Almost like it was planned ...

You noticed that also?

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 07:02 PM | Reply

PEDO DONNIE is that insane

#13 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-11-09 08:27 PM | Reply

@#11 ... So when tariffs are refunded, they go back to the corporations.

Will the corporations be sending you and me checks? ...

Yes, of course they will. Because corproations care so much about you and me.

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 09:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

So when tariffs are refunded, they go back to the corporations.

They don't go back to Gyna?

#15 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-11-09 09:44 PM | Reply

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

#9 | Posted by LampLighter

His blind supporters won't understand that. Most of them don't even understand the difference between -million- and -billion-.

#16 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-11-10 02:50 PM | Reply

It will be intereshh to invite in the next few days or. Even weeks; will he try to keep this con job going?

#17 | Posted by danni at 2025-11-10 07:51 PM | Reply

just the usual bull crap for the idiots who still think Trump is their dog-God.
This will never happen.

#18 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-11-10 09:29 PM | Reply

" Most of them don't even understand the difference between -million- and -billion-."

In some countries, a billion is a thousand million (10^9), but in other countries it's a million million (10^12).

#19 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-11-11 12:24 AM | Reply

Trump, Bessent, Lutnik, Hassett and Navarro ...
What could possibly go awry?

#20 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-11-11 05:45 AM | Reply

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?

Just like the Doge $5000 check, these checks will be mailed out the 35th of Neveruary.

It's all gaslighting bullshot by the liar in chief.

#21 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-11-11 10:52 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

#5 inflation doesn't exist if you don't measure it.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2025-11-09 03:35 PM | Reply | Flag

Just like if you stop testing for COVID it is gone.

#22 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-11-11 10:54 AM | Reply

SCOTUS will say the tariffs are unconstitutional.

Trump will blame SCOTUS for taking the Tariff checks.

#23 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-11-11 11:06 AM | Reply

Is it OK that I gave Nixon's post both a Newsworthy and a Funny because it deserved both? "Neveruary" brilliant hilarity!

#24 | Posted by danni at 2025-11-11 12:09 PM | Reply

#9 I crunched the numbers and it is NOT "where's the $400,000,000,000.00 going to come from."

Nope.

It is "where's the $600,000,000,000.00 going to come from."

Let's do the math:

US Population: 342,000,000

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

So, okay, let's go ...

300,000,000 people times $2,000.00 per person is $600,000,000,000.00.

Tariff collection so far in 2025 has been around $200,000,000,000.00.

But we've already determined that that $200,000,000,000.00 was going to go to corporations for the return of the tariff money, right?

So, where will the $600,000,000,000.00 come from?

#25 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-11 02:51 PM | Reply