President Trump has publicly renewed his proposal to issue $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks to many Americans, particularly those in middle- and lower-income brackets, funded by revenue from tariffs his administration has imposed.

At a recent press event he suggested these payments might be done “without the Congress route,” claiming that tariff revenue could be used directly for the payments and to reduce the national debt.

The idea isn’t just vague talk: Trump has repeatedly described the payments as a way to return some of the money he says the government is collecting via tariffs.

Officials have previously discussed the checks arriving in 2026, potentially around mid-year, though that timeline remains uncertain.

Constitutionally, only Congress can appropriate money and authorize federal spending like tax rebates or stimulus checks. Multiple senior administration officials — including White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — have said a legislative proposal and congressional approval would be needed to make the payments real.

Trump’s public suggestion that he can bypass Congress contrasts with this longtime understanding — legal experts widely disagree with his claim and stress that unilateral executive spending authority is extremely limited.