Trump’s $5,000-Dividend Midterms Pledge Draws Criticism

President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Sept.

9, 2026. —Tasos Katopodis—Getty Images President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the coming midterm elections .

Trump made the promise of a so-called “Trump dividend” at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night.

He said the money would have to be spent in the U.S., although he did not offer details on how that restriction would be enforced.

The White House did not comment on the details of the proposal, but White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told TIME that “with the continued support of the American people, President Trump will keep delivering real results.” “Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate,” Trump said, “I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000, very much like a successful company will do a cash distribution to its shareholders.” Where would the money come from? The proposal could have significant economic consequences.

The U.S. has roughly 240 million adult citizens, according to Census Bureau data , putting the proposal’s cost at approximately $1.2 trillion.

Unless offset by new revenue or spending cuts, the payments would likely widen the federal budget deficit—which totaled nearly $1.8 trillion in fiscal 2025—and could add to inflationary pressures.

Vice President J.D.

Vance later narrowed the proposal, suggesting that wealthy Americans would not qualify.

He added that the payments could be financed by tariff revenue, which amounted to around $154.5 billion in the first 10 months of fiscal 2026 through July.

Trump, who has frequently blamed former President Joe Biden for raising inflation through stimulus measures, suggested that the dividend would be financed by “tremendous economic success” from his policies.

“The reason the Democrats can’t do that is because they don’t do tariffs, they don’t take in money, all they know is poverty,” the President said.

When asked by Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Thursday “if you have the money, why not give it now,” Trump said Democrats had produced “negative growth” while growth under Republicans has been “so positive.” (Real GDP grew annually throughout Biden’s presidency, as it has also done in Trump’s second term.) In his first term, Trump authorized two rounds of congressionally-approved stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic.