US president says every adult citizen would receive $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in the November elections.
US President Donald Trump has promised to issue a $5,000 “dividend” to every adult citizen in the United States if Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump made the pledge during the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, where he urged voters to support Republican candidates in the November elections.
“If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them … I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said.
He described the proposed payment as a dividend linked to what he called the country’s economic strength and success under his administration.
Trump added that the only condition attached to the proposed payment, beyond Republicans winning both chambers, would be that the money must be spent within the United States.
However, the president did not provide details on when the payments would be made, how they would be funded or what legislative process would be required to implement the plan.
The proposed payments could cost more than $1 trillion if distributed to every adult US citizen. Axios, citing Census Bureau estimates, put the potential number of adult US citizens at about 245 million, which would place the cost of a $5,000 payment at roughly $1.2 trillion.
The proposal has already generated debate over its financial and legal feasibility, with questions about whether the president could authorise such a large-scale payment without approval from Congress.
Trump has previously floated other forms of direct payments to Americans, including a proposed tariff-funded dividend. Those earlier proposals were not implemented.
The latest promise comes as Republicans prepare for a closely watched midterm election in which control of the House and Senate will be at stake.
Trump has sought to make the elections a referendum on his administration, telling supporters to “pretend” that he himself is on the ballot and urging them to turn out for Republican candidates.
For now, the $5,000 payment remains a campaign promise, with no detailed mechanism announced for its implementation or funding.
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