Did Trump approve a $2,000 stimulus check? What happened to the tariff rebate
President Donald Trump has pitched two possible stimulus checks, but here's where the idea stands today
If you’re expecting a stimulus check before the end of 2025, you may have to keep waiting.
There have been rumors swirling of a $2,000 stimulus check coming in October, but those have since been debunked by the Internal Revenue Service. False claims like that can lead to phishing scams, so the agency warns taxpayers to beware.
The claims may have come from a previous idea of President Donald Trump’s. Earlier this year, he floated the possibility of a stimulus check from tariff revenue, but that has yet to come to fruition amid rumors of a staggering paycheck coming in October. Here's where the idea stands today.
Where does the Trump stimulus check stand?
In July, the president said the government may approve a stimulus check made up of revenue from tariffs. At the time, he and former DOGE leader Elon Musk said the checks would be up to $5,000, Axios reported.
The first step to confirming a stimulus check is for it to be approved by Congress, but the idea was never officially proposed. There’s been no update on the checks.
On One America News on Oct. 2, Trump reignited the idea, saying he is considering offering stimulus checks from tariffs between $1,000 and $2,000.
“We're going to do something, we're looking at something. Number one, we're paying down debt. Because people have allowed the debt to go crazy,” Trump said.
He continued: “We'll pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America.”
Most recent stimulus checks
The most recent opportunity for a stimulus check was for the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit from 2021, which was aimed at providing Americans with financial relief from the pandemic.
The last day to claim this payment was April 15, 2025.
Stimulus check scams
The IRS warns false information about stimulus checks could lead to scams. Fraudsters have attempted to phish people about the pandemic-era stimulus payment.
These are the most common scams tactics include:
- The IRS will never send direct messages via social media
- Scammers tend to misuse the term “stimulus check” instead of using the official term “economic impact payment.”
- Con artists will ask people to sign over their checks, banking information, and other personal information.
- The IRS will never send text messages without your permission. Scammers will send fake messages in an attempt to get personal information.
- Scammers will promise fast payments or a refund if given permission to act on the taxpayer’s behalf. The IRS will never call to demand payments, threaten arrest, or inform you of a refund.