Trump says $2,000 tariff checks could come mid-2026. But one Republican senator says, ‘We can’t afford it’

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President Donald Trump kept hopes alive that he plans to share revenue from his trade tariffs as a dividend check.

"We're going to be issuing dividends later on, somewhere before, probably in the middle of next year, a little bit later than that. Thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office earlier in November (1).

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The president has floated the idea of a dividend rebate check since July (2). He’s frequently mentioned that he “might” send $1,000 to $2,000 rebates, but has yet to confirm any details.

Trump has previously claimed that his tariffs on imports from other nations have already raked in well over $1 trillion this year, with $650 billion from the European Union, $550 billion from Japan and $350 billion from South Korea (2).

However, a Fox Business story indicates that tariffs have generated only over $200 billion (3).

‘We can’t afford it’

Republican Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) threw cold water on the president’s plan, saying that any tariff revenue needs to be used to pay down the U.S. deficit of $1.8 trillion.

“Look, we can’t afford it. I wish we were in a position to return the American public their money, but we’re not,” he said during an interview with Fox Business.

“President Trump had deficits about $800 billion—Obama, in his last four years, $550 billion a year. Now we’re $2 trillion? Completely unacceptable. We have to start focusing on that and doing something about it,” Johnson added (4).

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has also cautioned about the need to use tariff revenue to pay down the deficit, said that the president’s plan to send out rebate checks would require approval from Congress.

“We will see. We need legislation for that,” Bessent told Fox News (5).

Build your own dividend stream

While you wait to see if Trump’s tariff payout becomes a reality, you may want to take steps to create your own dividend income stream.

In the investing world, a dividend is a slice of a company’s profits that gets paid back to shareholders — typically on a quarterly basis.

Owning dividend-paying stocks allows you to collect passive income without selling your shares — and it can be surprisingly satisfying. As John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest Americans in history, once said, “Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It’s to see my dividends coming in.”

While stock prices can rise and fall, companies with a strong track record of paying — and growing — dividends offer investors a steady cash flow. Over time, those increases can compound into a powerful income stream.

If you’d rather not pick individual stocks, dividend-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a simple alternative. These funds hold a basket of dividend-paying companies, providing instant diversification across industries. Many also offer automatic reinvestment, allowing investors to compound their returns over time without lifting a finger.

The beauty of ETF investing is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in a dividend ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

For those who want to choose their own ETFs, consider using SoFi. Their easy-to-use DIY investing platform lets you buy stocks and ETFs with no commission fees and no account minimums.

SoFi is designed for both beginners and seasoned investors, with real-time investing news, curated content and the data you need to make smart decisions about the stocks that matter most to you.

Plus, for a limited time, you can get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.

Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)

Earn rental income without becoming a landlord

Real estate is another popular way to generate recurring income. When you own a rental property and tenants pay rent, you earn a steady monthly cash flow.

It’s also a popular hedge against inflation, as property values and rental income tend to rise alongside the cost of living.

However, while real estate investing has clear benefits, being a landlord comes with its challenges. Managing a property involves finding and screening tenants, collecting rent and handling maintenance and repair requests (out of your own pocket) — and that’s assuming you can save enough for a down payment and get a mortgage to buy the property in the first place.

The good news? These days, you don’t need to buy a property outright to reap the benefits of real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100 — all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

## Let your cash hatch its own income

You don’t need a massive investment portfolio to build passive income. Even your spare cash can work harder for you — earning competitive yields instead of sitting idle.

To get started, a high-yield account, such as a Wealthfront Cash Account, can be a great place to grow your emergency funds, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account can provide a base variable APY of 3.50%, but new clients can get a 0.65% boost over their first three months for a total APY of 4.15% provided by program banks on your uninvested cash. That’s over nine times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s November report.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, you can ensure your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

USA Today (1); X user @Acyn (2); Fox Business (3), (4); CNN (5)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.