Trump pledges $5,000 payment to adults if Republicans retain congressional control
President Donald Trump said his party would give every U.S. adult a $5,000 payment after the midterm elections, a proposal that would cost roughly $1.2 trillion and faces skepticism from both parties.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his Republican Party would provide a $5,000 "dividend" to every adult in the United States if it maintains control of Congress after the November midterm elections. Trump made the comment while speaking to reporters in Ireland, adding that the payment would be affordable because of the party's projected revenue.
The proposal, which would affect an estimated 240 million adults and cost about $1.2 trillion, would require congressional approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the details still need to be worked out. Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno indicated he would draft legislation to implement the payment after the election.
Fiscal analysts note that the plan would add substantially to the federal deficit, which already exceeds $40 trillion. Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warned that such a payout could increase both the deficit and inflation.
Democratic leaders dismissed the idea as unrealistic. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it not a "serious proposal," and California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the pledge, saying it amounted to a vote-buying scheme.
The suggestion comes amid broader concerns about the national debt and ongoing economic pressures linked to foreign conflicts.