GOP senator shoots down President Trump’s push for $2K tariff dividend: ‘We can’t afford it’

nypost.com ^ | Nov. 25, 2025 | Ryan King

[V_TWIN]

Sen. Ron Johnson rejected President Trump’s proposal to shell out $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks to Americans before the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that money should be used to reduce the federal deficit.

Johnson (R-Wis.) praised the idea during an interview with Fox Business Network’s “Mornings With Maria” Monday, but insisted getting the country’s fiscal house back in order was more important.

The payments would require approval from the Republican-controlled Congress, with Johnson and other GOPers indicating the proposal is dead on arrival.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: bankruptnation; debtslavery; itsover; titanicdeckchairs

[delchiante]

Let’s get behind the Govt draining Soros and other enemies foreign and domestic of their wealth that has been ill-gotten.

It would be one of the great spoils of winning the war that obliterates the Deep State and drains the Swamp.

[V_TWIN]

“I don’t want us or Trump slip-sliding into the “buy-a-vote” crowd.”

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I dunno man, if it keeps evil from running the country I think I’m good with it. 🤷

[Leaning Right]

> I’m against it. I’d rather it pay on the national debt. <

That was my first thought as well. But as long as Congressmen (D and R alike) absolutely refuse to cut spending, that $2000 would be just a small drop in a big bucket.

I dunno. Now I’m kinda leaning towards handing it out.

[Vaduz]

Money should be used to reduce the federal deficit.

Stop feeding the illegals and the federal deficit could inch out of the red zone.

And a lot other tax payer pick pocket plans.

[Vermont Lt]

I guess it’s been a few years since Uncle Sugar paid a visit. I wish someone could explain to me how dumping $2,000 a head into the economy is not going to result in inflation?

I mean, it did the last time.

Either pay down the debt or drop the tax rate. Giving $2k to people who are not paying federal taxes is just graft.

[sheana]

as long as Congressmen (D and R alike) absolutely refuse to cut spending,

They’ll never cut spending....but they’ll also make darn sure that we don’t see a penny of it either. I hate them more than they hate me.

[House Atreides]

“… not before Jan 3 when she gets full retirement for working for a whole 5 years…”
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True…if by “full” you mean getting 5% of her average annual salary (computed by adding her final three years base pay and dividing by three) for the past three years STARTING WHEN SHE’S AGE 62. She’ll be 62 in ten years.

[Mark]

Politically it would be great. A large increase in RNC-MAGA votes.

[SecondAmendment]

With all due respect to Sen Johnson :

• It is not your money it is ours.
• Reducing the "budget deficit" is very simple, just spend a lot less than you get.

So saying "we can't afford a rebate" is at best lazy and at worst cowardly.

And yes I am personally opposed to the "rebate" floated by Trump because it is unfair, why punish those making more than 100K ?

[Flaming Conservative]

I’m against it. I’d rather it pay on the national debt.

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Yes, but they won’t, will they? I’ll take the two grand for my husband and me; we can use it.

[Bullish]

Hahaha... You’re never going to “reduce the federal deficit” Ron, and everybody knows it.

[jz638]

"We’ve averaged $1.89 trillion deficits over the last five years

Excellent point. Congress is absurdly irresponsible with money and cannot be trusted with spending it.

Seriously though, this would be a giveaway that helps offset some of the economic pain that the tariffs have caused. A little encouragement to keep the faith while the nation claws its soul back from globalism. You could also call it an election year bribe, same thing really. The important part is winning.

[mass55th]

"I dunno. I’d rather get my fiscal house in order with 2 grand, than throwing more money down the Government endless pit rat hole."

Congress will never get its fiscal house in order. After all the wasted money these a-holes have allowed RATS to tag onto past Bills, give me my frickin' $2,000 before I croak. At least let me get something back at age 78, from all the Federal taxes I've been paying since I was 16.

[Sam Otto Long]

If you do the responsible thing and pay down the debt, The other side will spend like drunken sailors when they return to power. It comes down to trust and that has been shattered. I suggest paying down the debt with a legally binding provision that a SuperMajority (75%) of both houses is needed to raise the debt. Further, No court, other than the US Supreme Court has jurisdiction. Congress cannot modify or repeal this law without a supermajority. If Congress would act its age perhaps we would be better off.

[sheana]

Good luck with that. They’d never do it. Pipe dream.

[stanne]

If she and Ron Johnson and her cohorts didn’t get retirement for 5 years of work like no one else on earth then there would be money for this $2000 one time for the people who keep them at the retirement for 5 years of work

Or maybe she could give up some of the questionable stock gains that she got by being in the congress and close to the info Then they could afford to throw a crumb to the little people keeping them there

Simple math

They don’t want to win the midterms and they hate Trump

[Captain Peter Blood]

To fund this windfall we would have to borrow like $400 to $500 Billion to make those payments. We would be increasing the National Debt, there is no Tariff reserve fund to pay this. It is totally irresponsible to do this. $39 Trillion here we come.

[Captain Peter Blood]

There is no Tariff money. If the court rules against Trump on the tariff case we have to pay back that so called tariff money to the other countries we collected from.

[MinorityRepublican]

Gavin agrees with Ronnie. We can't afford it.

[Varsity Flight]

Commie Mike, bringing back the mandate penalty for payoffs smell.