Trump says tariffs are going to be enough to pay down national debt. It likely won't even touch the sides

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Trump says his tariff revenues will both pay down America’s $37 trillion debt and possibly fund a public “dividend,” but Treasury data shows they fall short of even covering monthly interest costs. In exclusive interviews with Fortune, Wharton’s Professor Joao Gomes and AEI’s Desmond Lachman warned that while tariffs may slow debt growth, they won’t meaningfully reduce it. Markets are largely skeptical of Trump’s math despite some unconventional revenue wins.

President Trump has a two-pronged plan for the proceeds of his tariff regime. Firstly, he says, it’s going to pay down America’s $37 trillion national debt. Secondly, he’s considering sharing the spoils with the public.

“The purpose of what I’m doing is primarily to pay down debt, which will happen in very large quantity,” Trump told media earlier this month. “But I think there’s also a possibility that we’re taking in so much money that we may very well make a dividend to the people of America.”

The plan sounds welcome, in theory. But there’s just one problem. At present, tariff revenues don’t even cover the interest on the debt—let alone reduce its overall size.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-says-tariffs-going-enough-080300997.html

Trump's alternative math?

[Irish_Dem]

1. Trump means that he is paying down his own personal debt and going to be paying himself bonuses

[lapfog_1]

2. regressive tax

1) tariffs are a regressive tax on average Americans. Period. Full stop. Importers pay the Treasury. They will pass along the cost to the consumer. No foreign country or business will ever pay a tariff. So there are no "spoils".

2) Tariffs are either a tool to onshore jobs ( manufacturing ) to the USA OR they are a treasury revenue source. By definition they cannot be both.

3) Redistributing ( in the form of either tax rebates or reductions OR in the form of direct payments ) is a direct form of redistribution of wealth. Pure communism. If I do not ever purchase a tariff good and I receive a direct payment or tax relief... that is the very definition of redistribution of wealth. If only consumers that buy imported products receive money proportional to the tariffs that they paid... why have the tariff in the first place?

4) The retaliatory moves by countries that experience the loss of income will hurt USA exporters of both services and goods, not to mention the loss of tourism will cost the US economy far more than the tariffs will raise in revenue.

Watch Ben Stein in Ferris Buellers day off explain the root cause of the Great Depression to his bored high school class. I have a feeling Ben ( a intelligent conservative ) wrote that scene himself. One of the hardest game shows ever was "Win Ben Steins Money".

[Norrrm]

3. Show us the analysis of the figures. Let's see the math.

[everyonematters]

4. Another delusion.