Trump joked his promised $5,000 payout would only buy a burger at Mar-a-Lago: ‘I’m not even sure you could buy that’

President Donald Trump has joked that the “Trump Dividend” – the $5,000 cash payment he said he wants to give every American adult – would only be enough for a “hamburger and a small dessert” at Mar-a-Lago. He has pledged to give $5,000 to every adult citizen if Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate, stipulating that the money must be spent within the United States.

“Go to Florida, go to any one of our great places. You can even come to Mar-a-Lago,” Trump said at a political rally in Corpus Christi, Texas. “The problem is that for $5,000 the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert.”

Mar-a-Lago is a 20-acre, members-only private club and estate. “I’m not even sure you could buy that,” Trump added. “No, don’t go there. It’s not a good place if you’re price conscious.”

Cost of living is still the main concern for American citizens

His comments come just a week before the midterm elections, with concerns over rising costs for essentials like fuel, groceries, housing, and healthcare dominating the debate. Since Trump launched a war against Iran last February, gasoline and energy prices in the U.S. have surged, making for tricky ground for down-ticket Republican candidates.

Trump has not outlined how the government would track how recipients spend the funds, not to mention that distributing $5,000 to every adult citizen would cost an estimated $1.2 trillion and require congressional approval.

A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that the economy and cost of living are the leading concerns for voters in the upcoming election, with healthcare ranking just behind. Eighty-five percent of respondents said the economy is among the most important issues influencing their vote, while 84% cited the cost of living. The poll also found that a large majority of voters believe the country needs either “substantial change” or “complete and total upheaval” in how it is run.

Meanwhile, the CNBC All-America Economic Survey conducted this month among 1,000 registered voters found that 52% preferred Democratic control of Congress – a 7-point margin over those favoring Republican control. When asked to name the most important issues facing the U.S. (with two responses allowed), 34% cited “the cost of food and groceries”, and 23% cited “the price of gas.” The most frequently mentioned concern was “government corruption,” at 36%. The survey also found that voters believed Democrats would handle gas prices better than Republicans by 9 points, and food and groceries by 16 points.