US President Donald Trump announced one of his most ambitious election promises in recent years during remarks at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas: a $5,000 payment to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November elections.
“If Republicans win, you will win too," Trump told the audience. He said the payment would be known as the “Trump Dividend" and would be restricted to spending within the United States, as part of an effort to stimulate the domestic economy.
Trump did not provide details on how the program would be financed or how it could be implemented from a legal and fiscal standpoint. Economists estimate that distributing $5,000 to approximately 270 million adult Americans could cost more than $1.3 trillion and would likely require congressional approval.
The announcement comes as Republicans face a competitive midterm campaign, with polls pointing to a tight race ahead of November. Trump sought to frame the proposal as an extension of his economic agenda and a way to return the benefits of economic growth directly to American citizens.
Economists and opposition figures, however, have sharply criticized the pledge, describing it as an extremely expensive proposal with no clear funding source at this stage. Critics warn that the plan could significantly increase the federal deficit.