Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan reportedly pressed President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Sunday over a question many Americans have been asking since the summer: when, exactly, will the $2,000 checks tied to Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs arrive?
Brennan raised the issue directly, noting that Trump has been discussing the idea since at least July and that Treasury Secretary comments suggested the payments would go to households earning under $100,000 a year. She asked whether Americans should realistically expect to see those checks in 2026.
Hassett responded by making clear that, as with most large-scale payments, the final decision rests with Congress. “Congress is going to have to send those monies to those peoples,” Hassett said, emphasizing that lawmakers ultimately control appropriations.
From there, Hassett pivoted to highlighting what he described as strong economic conditions under the Trump administration. He pointed to recent growth numbers and improving federal finances as reasons the idea is now more realistic than it may have been earlier in the year.
“But the thing we can say is that since July we have had a lot of positive news about the economy,” Hassett said. He cited “a couple of quarters of almost 4% growth” and noted that the federal government has been running a surplus for several consecutive months. Hassett also said the deficit compared to last year is down by $600 billion.
Those improvements, he argued, change the calculus. “So, in the summer I wasn’t so sure there was space for a check like that,” Hassett said. “But now I am pretty sure there is.” He added that he expects Trump to formally advance a proposal to Congress in the new year aimed at making the payments happen.
Brennan pressed further, asking whether the checks would be funded directly from tariff revenue or require a new mechanism. “So a new proposal for these — it’s not necessarily coming from existing tariff revenue?” she asked.
Hassett said tariff revenue could play a role, but stressed that government funding does not operate in silos. “Oh, well, it could come from tariff revenue,” he said. “But in the end, we get taxes, we get tariffs, we get revenue from lots of places, and then Congress decides how to spend those monies that’s in appropriation.” He made clear that any checks would require congressional authorization.
Brennan summed up the uncertainty bluntly, telling viewers, “So, don’t bank on it, in other words.”
The exchange follows Trump’s announcement last week that he was sending $1,176 checks to every service member as a Christmas “warrior dividend,” a move the president tied to tariff revenue. While Trump framed the payments as a benefit made possible by his trade policies, the funds were actually drawn from congressionally allocated reconciliation money originally intended to subsidize housing allowances for service members.
The discussion underscores the political reality facing Trump’s broader proposal for household checks. While the administration is touting strong economic indicators and increased fiscal flexibility, any direct payments to Americans will still require congressional approval, setting up a potential showdown on Capitol Hill as the White House looks to turn campaign rhetoric into policy.
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