“I will give each of you $5,000” — Trump’s new promise

US President Donald Trump has promised to give $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections.

Trump made the pledge on September 9 at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas. He called the proposed payment the “Trump Dividend”, comparing it to cash distributions made by successful companies to shareholders.

The price tag could reach $1.35 trillion

The United States has roughly 270 million adults. A $5,000 payment to each would therefore cost about $1.35 trillion. The Associated Press also estimated that the proposal would cost more than $1 trillion.

The proposal is not yet an approved government program. It would require congressional authorization, and Trump did not provide details on how the payments would be implemented.

Tariffs as a possible funding source

Trump suggested that tariff revenue could help finance the payments. However, current tariff receipts are not large enough to cover a program costing more than $1 trillion.

Vice President JD Vance later suggested that wealthy Americans might be excluded from the payments. That would differ from Trump’s initial wording, in which he said the dividend would go to every adult American.

For now, the “Trump Dividend” remains a campaign promise rather than an enacted policy. Its final design, eligibility rules and funding source would depend on legislation approved by Congress.