President Donald Trump is doubling down on his promise to provide a $5,000 dividend to every adult in the United States if Republicans maintain control of Congress following the November midterm elections. The President reaffirmed this commitment while visiting a golf course in Ireland on Sunday, The Guardian reported. He emphasized that the country could easily manage the cost because of the current revenue the government is collecting.
The proposal carries a massive price tag. With approximately 240 million adult citizens in the country, the total cost of such a payout would reach roughly $1.2 trillion. This comes at a time when the federal government is already navigating significant fiscal challenges, as the national debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time in August. During the 2025 fiscal year, the government spent about $7 trillion, with 2 trillion of that amount added to the national debt.
When asked by reporters if Congress would need to approve this payment, President Trump stated, “I don’t know but it’s easy if the Republicans win. $5,000 to all adults in the country and we can easily handle that because we’re taking in so much money.” He further remarked, “The Democrats can’t make that pledge because it would all go to hell right away, we’d go into a depression … I made that pledge, I always keep my pledge.”
The reaction to this plan has been intense across the political landscape
Democratic leaders have been particularly vocal in their criticism. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed strong disapproval of the suggestion, saying, “After making you sicker and poorer with his war, Donald Trump now wants to buy your vote with $5,000 in taxpayer-funded blood money,” and described him as “the most corrupt man ever to occupy the Oval Office.” Meanwhile, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC’s This Week that the plan is not a “serious proposal.”
Economic experts have also raised concerns about the impact of such a massive injection of cash into the economy. When the idea was first introduced at a rally in Texas, Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget posted on X, “The result would be a huge spike in the deficit, and almost certainly in the inflation rate.”
Despite the backlash, the idea has found some traction among members of the Republican Party. US Senator Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, expressed his support on X, stating, “I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election.”
However, the path to implementation remains uncertain, as any such payment would require formal legislative approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, acknowledged these logistical hurdles during an interview on Sunday, noting, “Of course, the devil’s in the details. We have to figure all that out.”
The timing of this proposal is notable as the President faces ongoing challenges, including low poll numbers and the economic effects of a conflict in Iran.
Published: Sep 13, 2026 02:24 pm