Trump Promises $5,000 Dividend if Republicans Retain Congress

US President Donald Trump has promised to give every American adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the November midterm elections.

Trump made the pledge on Wednesday during the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, as he sought to rally support for Republican candidates ahead of the elections.

He said the payment would be conditional on Republicans maintaining control of the House of Representatives and Senate.

The proposed payment would cost about $1.35 trillion if extended to approximately 270 million American adults, according to estimates reported after Trump’s announcement.

Trump did not provide details on how the programme would be funded or how the payments would be authorised.

Vice-President JD Vance later suggested that wealthier Americans could be excluded from the payment and indicated that tariff revenues could be used to finance the proposal. However, analysts have questioned whether tariff revenues would be sufficient to cover the projected cost.

The proposal would also require congressional approval before the federal government could make such payments, according to legal and fiscal analysts.

Trump’s pledge comes as Republicans face a competitive midterm election, with control of both chambers of Congress at stake.

The president used his lengthy convention address to promote his administration’s record and urge voters to support Republican candidates, while warning against a Democratic takeover of Congress.