"Trump's $2,000 "dividend payments" aren't in the news today. It was just another harebrained Trump idea that he impulsively blurted without thinking about the consequences"

Trump has stated, at various times, that he would use the tariff money to
bail out the farmers feeling the effects of the tariff policies. He has stated
that he is going to use the tariff funds to give most Americans a $2,000 "dividend"
check. He has also said he will use the tariff funds to pay down the national debt.
This is just off recent memory, he's probably made other claims as well.

Is it illegal for a journalist to confront Trump about how there is not
nearly enough money coming from tariffs to actually do all these things ?

( not just Trump,either. Lutnik and Bessent propagate the fairy tales as well ).

This is not political, I'd feel the same if it were D's or Independents
spouting such nonsense. America is being steered toward an economic cliff,
and journalists are not willing to confront the driver(s) of the runaway
vehicle.