- Trump promises a $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate after the midterms.
- The payments must be spent domestically, though Trump did not specify how the estimated $1 trillion program would be funded.
- Critics question the proposal's feasibility, citing the large federal deficit and the necessity for congressional approval to authorize spending.
Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would give every adult U.S. citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections.
Trump made the promise Wednesday while speaking at a Republican Party convention in Dallas, Texas, held ahead of the midterm 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 also said the money would have to be spent in the United States.
Trump did not explain how the payments would be funded or when they would be made. He also did not give details about how the program would be administered or what action Congress would need to take before the money could be distributed.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but their majorities are narrow. The November elections will decide whether the party keeps control of Congress.
All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year. Thirty-five Senate seats are also being contested.
The proposed payment could cost more than $1 trillion if all adult Americans were eligible. That has raised questions about where the money would come from and how it would affect the federal budget.
Trump has previously suggested using revenue from tariffs to provide money directly to Americans. He has not, however, released a detailed plan showing how tariff revenue would be used to finance the $5,000 payment.
The United States is already running a large federal deficit and has more than $40 trillion in national debt. Critics of the proposal have questioned whether the government could afford the payments without increasing borrowing.
There are also questions about whether Trump could introduce such a payment without approval from Congress. Federal spending generally requires congressional authorization, and no legislation establishing the $5,000 payment has been approved.
Trump's announcement comes as the economy and the cost of living are major issues in the midterm campaign. Prices remain a concern for many Americans, while energy costs have also been affected by the conflict involving Iran.
Trump has defended his tariff policies, saying they bring revenue to the United States and protect American industries. Critics argue that tariffs can also raise the cost of imported goods and put pressure on consumers and businesses.
Democrats are seeking to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress. Republicans, meanwhile, are campaigning on Trump's economic policies as well as issues such as immigration, border security and national security.
The $5,000 proposal is likely to become part of that campaign debate. Supporters can argue that Americans should receive some of the revenue generated by tariffs, while opponents are likely to question the cost and whether the plan is workable.
For now, the $5,000 payment is a proposal from Trump and not an approved federal benefit. Its implementation would depend on the outcome of the elections and, if the plan requires congressional action, whether lawmakers approve it.
