True.
However, the billions of dollars in interest have not gone to the deficit as written in the legislation. Now, it has become a slush fund for Treasury. Once they get used to having this revenue stream, the picking of ‘winners and losers’ commences.
However, that doesn't mean TARP was initially a mistake. TARP was was and is demogogued by the political class who use it for their own gain; unfortunately most people on both right and left believe the lies.