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

President Donald Trump has promised to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress after the November 2026 midterm elections. He made the announcement at a party convention in Dallas on September 9. Trump called the payments the "Trump Dividend" and compared them to money that companies pay their shareholders. He said the strong economy justified the plan.

However, experts say the plan has serious problems. A president cannot send such payments without approval from Congress. The total cost would be over $1 trillion, which would make the country's large budget deficit much worse and could push prices higher. At the time of the announcement, Trump's approval ratings were very low, around the low 30s, and many voters were already angry about high prices.