Former US President Donald Trump recently addressed questions about his earlier pledge to give $2,000 checks to most Americans. He now says these payments might happen toward the end of the year. This marks a clear shift from his previous promise to deliver them before the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump Corrects Himself on Check Timeline
The New York Post reported on Trump's latest comments. During a two-hour Oval Office interview, a New York Times White House correspondent asked Trump about his promise. The reporter mentioned the $2,000 checks funded by tariff revenues and asked when Americans could expect them.
Trump initially seemed surprised by the question. He interrupted, asking "I did? When did I say that?" He then clarified his position. Trump explained he was actually referring to a different payment. He pointed to the $1,776 bonus given to about 1.5 million service members before the holiday season. The U.S. Department of War confirmed this distribution.
New Timeline Emerges for Proposed Payments
The Times reporter pressed Trump again. "When will those Americans get those checks?" the reporter asked. Trump responded with a revised timeline. "Well, I am going to," he said. "The tariff money is so substantial that's coming in, that I'll be able to do 2,000 sometime, I would say, toward the end of the year."
This statement represents a significant change. Last year, Trump pledged to distribute checks to middle- and lower-income Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Some Republicans expressed skepticism about how the administration would finance this plan. The White House has not responded to inquiries about whether work is currently underway on these checks. They also haven't provided any planned date for sending them out.
Funding Questions Surround the Check Proposal
Serious questions remain about how Trump would pay for these $2,000 checks. The nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated the cost. Delivering payments to most Americans would require about $600 billion. This amount is roughly double the tariff revenue the government is projected to bring in.
Trump's recent trade actions add context to the tariff revenue discussion. On Monday, local time, he unveiled a broad new trade measure. This action targets countries that "continue to do business with Iran." Trump declared that all such nations will face a 25% tariff on their commercial dealings with the United States.
New Tariff Policy Announced on Truth Social
Trump announced this policy on his Truth Social platform. He stated it would take effect immediately. He described the directive as "final and conclusive." In his post, Trump wrote, "Effective immediately, any country engaging in business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be subject to a 25% tariff on any and all trade with the United States of America." He added that the order was final and thanked readers for their attention.
This move could potentially increase tariff revenues. However, experts question whether it would generate enough to fund the proposed $2,000 checks. The timeline shift and funding uncertainties leave many Americans wondering if and when they might see these payments.
