Trump promises $2,000 cash to every American, then Treasury Secretary drops a bombshell about what you’re actually getting

President Donald Trump said this weekend that most Americans will get a $2,000 payment thanks to revenue coming in from his tariffs. He posted on Truth Social early Sunday morning that everyone except high earners would receive this dividend as the country brings in trillions of dollars from tariffs.

Trump defended his tariff plan while making this announcement. He said the United States is now the richest and most respected country in the world, with stock markets and retirement accounts hitting record highs. He also said the government would soon start using tariff money to pay off the country’s $37 trillion debt.

But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave a very different explanation about what people might get. When he talked to George Stephanopoulos on This Week on Sunday, Bessent said the $2,000 benefit might not be a direct payment at all, according to The Hill. He explained that the money could come in many different ways, mainly through tax cuts that Trump wants to pass.

Of course, there’s a catch to the $2,000 promise

Bessent admitted he has not talked to Trump about this plan yet. But he gave examples of how people might get the $2,000 value. He mentioned getting rid of taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security checks. He also talked about letting people deduct auto loan payments from their taxes.

The Treasury Secretary called these big tax breaks that are part of the tax bill being worked on. This means people would save $2,000 over time by paying less in taxes, not by getting a check in the mail. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has made similar bold claims while talking about the government’s money plans.

In his post, Trump said tariffs are bringing huge amounts of business investment to America, with new factories opening everywhere. He called anyone against tariffs foolish and said inflation is almost zero now. Trump has put tariffs at the center of his economic strategy, even while dealing with tough trade talks with countries like China. So, anyone hoping for a $2,000 check might instead just see smaller tax bills through different breaks and deductions.