Trump promises ₹1.7 lakh ‘dividend’ for every American:US President says the country earning billions of dollars through tariffs, calls critics ‘fools’

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday, claiming that tariffs are generating billions of dollars. He said that this earning would provide a $2,000 (approx. ₹1.7 lakh) dividend to every American citizen, excluding the wealthy. In the post, Trump called critics of tariffs ‘fools’. He said, ‘People who speak against tariffs are fools. Our government has made America the richest and most respected country in the world, where inflation is negligible and the stock market is at record levels.’ However, Trump did not specify who would receive this profit, nor did he provide clear information on eligibility criteria (such as what the income limit would be) or the timeline. This is not the first time he has made such a promise. In October, he had hinted at a rebate of $1,000 to $2,000. Treasury Secretary said – Our focus is on paying off debt US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified Trump’s claims in an interview with ABC News. He said that he had not discussed this dividend with Trump. But perhaps this amount could come in the form of tax cuts. According to a Times of India report, Bessent’s focus is on paying off debt, not on distributing direct checks. In August, he told CNBC that the $38.12 trillion debt would be reduced with tariff revenue. Report – Trump’s plan could increase debt According to the Treasury Department’s September statement, tariffs generated only $195 billion in revenue in the Financial Year 2025. If $2,000 per person were distributed (to approximately 250 million non-wealthy Americans), the cost would be around $500 billion, which is significantly more than the current revenue. According to a New York Times report, this plan could increase debt rather than reduce it.