President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration is weighing the possibility of sending rebate checks to Americans, citing a dramatic influx of money from tariffs as a driving force behind the idea.
“We have so much money coming in,” Trump told reporters during a press event at the White House. “We’re thinking about a little rebate.”
The president made it clear that his top priority remains fiscal discipline, but suggested the windfall from tariffs has opened new opportunities.
“The big thing we want to do is pay down debt,” he said. “But we’re thinking about a rebate.”
Pressed for more details, Trump praised the line of questioning, indicating it may spark broader national conversation. “That’s a very good question,” he said to one reporter. “You just made a lot of news.”
Trump hinted that the potential rebate could target Americans based on income: “A little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice.”
Returning to the White House in January for his second term, President Trump has aggressively reinstated and expanded his “America First” trade policies. According to The Washington Times, the federal government has taken in over $106 billion in tariff revenue since Trump first took office — with more than $81.5 billion of that collected during his current term.
The Department of Homeland Security called the numbers a direct result of the administration’s strategic tariff enforcement.
During a recent press briefing, Trump shared an anecdote highlighting the unexpectedly high revenue. “They have so much money coming in,” he repeated, referring to federal departments.
He recalled a phone call with a senior official who reported that federal budget lines were being overwhelmed with unusual revenue spikes. Trump said he directed the official to check the tariff line item.
“Two hours later he calls me back and says, ‘You’re right,’” Trump recounted.
Beyond revenue, the president emphasized broader economic gains. “We have companies coming in, factories coming in,” he said. “The economy is strong, and we’re bringing jobs back.”
As speculation grows about possible rebate checks, Trump’s economic team has remained tight-lipped on exact figures or timelines — but the proposal is already generating buzz.