Trump’s promise was simple: tariffs on foreign goods would finally pay off for ordinary Americans, not just Washington. But behind the rally lines and viral soundbites lies a grim spreadsheet. Tariff revenue hit about $195 billion in 2025—far short of the roughly $300 billion needed to fund $2,000 checks for eligible Americans. Even long‑range forecasts, stretching into the trillions over a decade, shrink once economic blowback and foreign retaliation are factored in. The money, at least for now, just isn’t there at the scale many people were led to expect.

Then there’s Congress. Any “tariff dividend” would almost certainly require legislation, just like the pandemic-era stimulus checks. Senator Josh Hawley’s American Worker Rebate Act dangled $600–$2,400 payments, but it stalled in committee. White House adviser Kevin Hassett has hinted that future checks could be patched together from multiple revenue streams, not tariffs alone. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is weighing the legality of Trump’s tariffs themselves, adding another layer of uncertainty. As hopes fade and scams multiply, Americans are left with a familiar feeling: the promises were clear, the fine print was not.