President Donald Trump has publicly emphasized the financial gains the United States is allegedly receiving from tariffs imposed under his administration. On multiple occasions—including during an April 8 address to the National Republican Congressional Committee—Trump claimed that the country was collecting as much as $2 billion per day through tariffs, describing the revenue as a major economic windfall.
However, official data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) presents a significantly different picture. According to a CBP spokesperson, since the latest round of tariffs was enacted on April 5, the agency has collected approximately $500 million—far below the president’s stated figures.
In total, CBP reports that it has collected roughly $21 billion in tariff-related revenue since Trump assumed office, through the enforcement of 15 separate presidential trade actions. This figure averages out to just under $250 million per day over the 86 days between January 20 and April 15—an amount markedly lower than the $2 billion cited by the president.
Additional financial data from the U.S. Treasury Department further challenges the president’s assertions. The Department’s records of daily deposits categorized under “Customs and Certain Excise Taxes” show an average intake of approximately $227 million per weekday since April 5. For the month of April, the cumulative tariff revenue stands at around $2.3 billion, while the total collected for the current fiscal year, which began in October, is approximately $55.5 billion.
On April 2, President Trump revealed a comprehensive tariff plan that included a standard 10 percent tariff on imports from most countries, with significantly higher rates targeted at nations identified as having the largest trade imbalances with the United States. However, following notable market volatility and calls from both domestic and international stakeholders for a reassessment, the administration later announced a temporary 90-day suspension of most new tariffs, excluding those imposed on China, to allow time for trade negotiations.
As of the latest reporting, the White House has not issued a formal response to inquiries regarding the inconsistencies in tariff revenue figures.
Source: Business Insider
