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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that President Trump’s proposal to send $2,000 to most Americans will first require Congress to pass legislation.
In an interview on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Bessent touted Trump’s effort to address affordability and lower the cost of living, but hedged when asked about the possibility of direct checks.
“We will see. We need legislation for that,” Bessent told host Maria Bartiromo, when asked if Trump will be sending direct payments of $2,000 or more to Americans.
“Again, President Trump is all about solutions, Maria,” he continued. “Everything is on the table, but I will tell you that, again, thanks to him keeping his campaign promises to working Americans with the … no tax on tips, Social Security, overtime, we are going to see a big bump in the first quarter with the refunds and the real incomes.”
“President Trump has also talked about sending $2,000 refunds, and that would be for working families, will have an income limit. Those could go out” Bessent said, before adding, “So President Trump is committed to getting the money back to families.”
Trump said earlier this month that every American, except “high income people,” will receive a “dividend of at least $2000,” from the revenue generated by Trump’s tariffs on imports.
The renewed focus on affordability comes after Democrats’ sweeping victories in this month’s elections, with many successful candidates running disciplined campaigns focused on affordability.
Trump on Friday signed an executive order cutting tariffs on scores of products in a bid to lower some grocery prices. The goods no longer subject to tariffs include coffee, tea, beef, bananas, tropical fruit, wood and iron.
“I will tell you what we’re not going to do. What we’re not going to do is tell the American people that they don’t know how they’re feeling, which is what the Biden administration did,” Bessent said, adding, “We are working every day to get these prices down.”