Treasury secretary on Trump $2K tariff dividend vow: 'It could just be … tax decreases'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump’s proposed dividend of $2,000 a person could come in the form of tax decreases, rather than direct payments.

In an interview Sunday on ABC News’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, the Treasury secretary said he has not yet talked to the president about his proposal, but he suggested the cash payment could take various forms.

“I haven't spoken to the president about this yet, but…. the $2,000 dividend could come in lots of forms, in lots of ways, George,” Bessent said.

“It could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president's agenda,” he continued. “You know, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. Deductibility of auto loans.”

“So, you know, those are substantial deductions that, you know, are being financed in the tax bill,” Bessent added.

Trump, in a statement on Truth Social early Sunday, said most Americans will get a dividend valued at “at least” $2,000, as he touted the revenue generated by his sweeping tariffs.

“People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.

“We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place,” he continued. “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”