Trump’s $2,000 tariff dividend may be a smart political move. But it would be a huge economic gamble

Economists tell CNN that tariffs are unlikely to generate enough revenue to pay for dividend payments the size President Donald Trump has promised. Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images New York —

One of the only things that polls worse than the Trump economy is the president’s almost unprecedented use of tariffs.

The White House, in an apparent bid to turn sentiment around on both the economy and tariffs, is once again floating a bold idea: redeploying tariff revenue to fund $2,000 dividend checks to lower- and middle-income Americans.

It’s easy to see how these tariff rebate payments could win over skeptical voters and help people who are struggling financially. Yet beyond the political appeal, it’s hard to make sense of the economic logic behind this idea.

Economists te