According to CNN, here, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is “promising” a tariff dividend to households making less than $100,000 per year. In 2024, this was 57.3% of households. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, here, as of Nov. 12, 2024, there are about 132.2 million household in the US. This means about 74.67 million households earn less than $100,000. Giving each of them $2,000 would require about $149.3 Billion, plus enough for logistics and overhead.

This means that the Trump administration defines “High Income People” as those making over $100,000 per year. I know that $100,000 per year was a lot of money 50 years ago. But today?

Given all the news about layoffs from private industry, and the actions of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, i imagine there are a few more households making less than $100,000 per year.

We all know – and even the Trump Administration appears to be acknowledging – that the tariffs are raising prices. So why not eliminate all Tariffs, not just the tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit?

Note: The graph above is on Statistica’s website, here, published Nov. 7, 2025.

See also “Tariffs and a $2,000 Dividend? Let’s do the Math.” here.