EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Donald Trump's promised $2,000 checks face major hurdles, requiring congressional approval and strict eligibility rules before any funds are distributed.
Those questions determine whether an attractive proposal becomes an actual payment program.
A figure of $2,000 does not by itself establish who would receive the money. A broad description such as “almost all Americans” does not define an income limit, explain how households would be treated, or identify any other qualification. Without those details, people cannot tell from the promise alone whether a future program would include them or how an amount would be calculated.