Trump floats 'dividend' for Americans after debt addressed

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that his administration may distribute between US$1,000 and US$2,000 to every American after addressing the record-high national debt, according to a Sputnik/RIA Novosti report.

"We'll pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people, the people of America," Trump told the One America News Network on Thursday.

"We're thinking, maybe US$1000 to US$2,000 would be great."

In August 2025, the US national debt reached its all-time high of US$37 trillion, resulting from persistent budget deficits and increased spending on various federal programs, as well as defence.

Trump has suggested using revenue from trade tariffs, which he implemented starting in April, to pay off the record national debt without the need to raise taxes on American households.

Meanwhile, Trump said the US has already received US$200 billion in revenue from tariffs, and the annual target is US$1 trillion.

"The country is ultimately taking in unprecedented amounts of tariff revenue, more than US$200 billion at this point in time," Trump said.

"The tariffs are going to be over a trillion dollars a year," the US president added.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI