A $2,000 stimulus check floated by Donald Trump has received a favorable response from voters, including many Democrats. As affordability issues intensify, the plan gains traction, despite skepticism from experts and officials. Trump’s promise of a direct “tariff dividend” is drawing attention as inflation remains a concern for many Americans.
Growing Support for Direct Rebate Checks
According to a Daily Mail poll conducted between December 20 and 21 among 1,000 registered voters, 52 percent expressed support for a tariff rebate, including 44 percent of Democratic respondents. Only 20 percent of voters opposed the idea outright. The data suggests that Trump’s messaging is resonating with a broad swath of the electorate, despite increasing dissatisfaction with his overall economic track record.
The same poll revealed that 48 percent of voters believe daily life has become less affordable due to actions taken by Trump’s administration. Additionally, 44 percent believe the economy is worsening, an increase from 38 percent earlier in the year. This shift in public perception underscores the pressures many households are facing and the appeal of any relief-oriented measures.
In early November, Trump introduced the idea of a one-time “dividend” of around $2,000 for low- and middle-income Americans, claiming it would be funded through tariff revenues. He cited the “trillions of dollars” reportedly generated from duties on imports as the source of this funding. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, $195 billion in customs duties were collected during the fiscal year ending September 30, with another $62 billion brought in during October and November.
At a November press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was “committed” to moving forward with the plan and was exploring “all legal options to get that done.” These signals suggest that while implementation remains uncertain, the administration is actively considering ways to distribute these funds.
Doubts Over Feasibility and Inflationary Risks
Despite public enthusiasm, multiple experts and members of the administration have raised questions about the viability of Trump’s plan. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that any rebate might not necessarily take the form of a direct payment. Speaking to ABC News, Bessent said the benefit could come instead from tax policies already introduced, such as eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security income, or making auto loan interest deductible.
The overall cost of the proposal remains a sticking point. According to Maurice Obstfeld, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, providing $2,000 checks per household earning under $100,000 would require over $200 billion. This amount is close to the projected total of Trump’s tariff revenues for the year, leaving little room for the dual goal of reducing national debt, which the president also emphasized.
Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, echoed similar concerns. Speaking to Newsweek, she warned that issuing large stimulus checks could risk reigniting inflation at a time when price stability is still fragile. She noted that combining direct payments with efforts to lower interest rates could “seriously threaten a return of higher inflation.”
Meanwhile, legal uncertainties persist. The Supreme Court is expected to rule in the coming months on whether Trump’s tariffs were lawfully imposed using emergency powers. Justices appeared skeptical during oral arguments in November, according to coverage of the hearings. The administration has stated it has alternative legal pathways for executing its trade strategy, regardless of the ruling.
