As the affordability crisis lingers into a new year, with everything from grocery bills and housing costs to healthcare premiums prompting concern for Americans, a finance-based gift from the government would no doubt be welcomed by many. 

Since returning to the White House for his second term, President Donald Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of giving a $2,000 stimulus check or tax rebate to the majority of Americans—a way of marking, what he views as, his Administration’s economic wins. Trump has heralded his global tariffs as the reason behind this notion, claiming that the money raised from the controversial levies can go back to the American people, specifically those from “middle and lower-income” households.

In a defiant post defending his tariffs against ongoing criticism and legal challenges, Trump in November insisted that people who are against his tariffs are “fools” and that many Americans will soon reap the benefits of the charges.

“We are now the richest, most respected country in the world. We are taking in trillions of dollars and will soon begin paying down our enormous debt… Record investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place,” claimed Trump via Truth Social. “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high-income people) will be paid to everyone.” The President did not specify who would qualify as “high-income” by his estimation.

Trump doubled down on the idea that Americans will soon see some financial returns during his Christmas address at the White House, boasting that 2026 is set to be “the largest tax refund season of all time.”

But what is the status of the dividend and is there a detailed plan in place to help make the payments a reality? Here’s what to know.

The status of the proposed $2,000 payments

On Monday, a White House official told TIME that, in light of the revenue raised by tariffs, the Administration remains “committed to putting this windfall to good use for the American people and continues to explore all options.”

The update echoes scant statements made by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in November. When briefing the media on the status of the dividend, Leavitt said that although there is no timeline in place, “the President made it clear he wants to make it happen, so his team of economic advisors are looking into it.”

Adding to the vagueness behind the dividend proposal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview last year said the payment could come “in lots of forms.”