Trump pledges $5,000 to US adults if Republicans win midterms

US President Donald Trump has promised to give every adult US citizen a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

Trump announced the proposal during a major Republican Party convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, calling the payment a “Trump dividend”.

He said the money would have to be spent in the United States, but provided few details about how the programme would operate or how it would be financed.

“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.

The proposal could cost well over $1 trillion. Reuters estimated the potential cost at about $1.35 trillion, while other estimates put the figure at around $1.2 trillion, depending on the number of eligible adults.

Trump did not explain whether Congress would need to approve the payments or provide a detailed legal mechanism for distributing them.

The proposal has therefore immediately raised questions about its feasibility, funding and potential impact on the federal deficit.

The Associated Press reported that the payments would require congressional approval and could add significantly to the US government’s already large fiscal deficit.

Economists have also warned that injecting such a large amount of money into the economy could create additional inflationary pressure.

Trump has previously proposed using revenue generated by tariffs to finance payments to Americans.

However, analysts say tariff receipts would be far below what would be required to fund a $5,000 payment to every eligible adult in a single year.

Vice-President JD Vance also suggested that wealthier Americans might ultimately be excluded from the programme.

The announcement came as Trump sought to rally Republican voters ahead of the 3 November midterm elections, in which control of the House of Representatives and Senate will be contested.

The Republican Party currently faces political pressure over the cost of living, energy prices and the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran.

Trump used his Dallas speech to defend his policies and urge voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his presidency.

The promise has drawn criticism from Democrats and scepticism from economists, while legal and constitutional questions remain unresolved.

Trump’s proposal is also politically unusual because eligibility for the payment would depend on Republicans winning both chambers of Congress.

That has prompted debate over whether the promise is primarily an economic proposal or an attempt to mobilise voters ahead of the midterms.

For now, no legislation establishing the proposed “Trump dividend” has been announced, and there is no confirmed timetable for payments.