Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has publicly rejected former President Donald Trump's proposal to send $2,000 tariff dividend checks to American taxpayers, declaring the country cannot afford such payments amid growing deficit concerns.
Deficit Concerns Take Priority
During an appearance on Fox Business's "Mornings with Maria" on Monday, Johnson emphasized that the United States must address its deficit problem immediately, stating the nation is operating on "borrowed time." The Wisconsin senator argued that any revenue generated through tariffs should be applied directly toward reducing the national deficit rather than distributed as cash payments to citizens.
Johnson's comments represent significant pushback from within Trump's own party, highlighting divisions over economic policy approaches. "We have to address the deficit problem. We are on borrowed time here," Johnson told host Maria Bartiromo during the interview.
Trump's Tariff Dividend Proposal
Earlier this month, Trump proposed sending Americans at least $2,000 next year from U.S. tariff revenue, a plan that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later clarified would target working families with specific income limitations for recipients. Bessent suggested the tariff checks could materialize through various methods, including potential tax decreases.
The conservative Tax Foundation has estimated that sending $2,000 checks to every American taxpayer earning less than $100,000 would cost approximately $279 billion—significantly more than what Trump's tariff revenues are projected to generate.
Growing Republican Opposition
Johnson isn't alone in his criticism of Trump's proposal. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky previously called the idea "crazy," indicating broader resistance within the Republican party. The Wisconsin senator expressed regret that the country isn't in a financial position to return money to taxpayers but maintained that fiscal responsibility must come first.
"I wish we were in a position to return the American public their money, but we're not," Johnson stated, reiterating his concerns about the nation's financial health. He previously suggested that whatever revenue the government collects should be directed toward reducing deficits rather than funding new spending programs.
Johnson provided context for his concerns by comparing deficit numbers across recent administrations. "President Trump had deficits of about $800 billion, Obama's last four years had $550 billion a year, and now we're at $2 trillion in deficits. Completely unacceptable," he noted during the interview.
The senator's comments come as both Democratic and Republican voters have expressed disapproval of how the current administration is handling economic issues, with Trump continuing to make controversial claims about grocery prices and inflation rates.
