President Donald Trump said Monday that Americans could begin receiving $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks as early as the middle of 2026 — marking the clearest timeline yet for a proposal he has floated several times this year.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump framed the payments as direct relief for Americans feeling squeezed by rising prices, saying the plan would send “thousands of dollars” to working- and middle-class individuals. He emphasized that the payouts would come from tariff revenues collected under his trade policiesBut despite the confident timetable, one major obstacle remains: the plan cannot move forward without congressional approval. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made that clear over the weekend, warning that lawmakers would need to pass legislation before any checks could go out. Whether Capitol Hill has the appetite for such a massive new program is still unknown.