India, Jan. 13 -- In early November 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of issuing $2,000 "tariff dividend" checks to Americans with moderate incomes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The proposal promised a one-time payment funded by revenues collected through import tariffs, projecting the move as direct economic relief for the middle class.

However, the credibility of the proposal came under scrutiny after Trump appeared to distance himself from the promise. During a recent interview with The New York Times, when asked about the $2,000 stimulus linked to tariff revenues, Trump responded with apparent uncertainty, asking, "I did do that? When did I do that?"

The remark stood in stark contrast to his earlier statement...