US President Donald Trump is defending his promise to give every adult American 5,000 dollars if Republicans win control of the House and Senate in this fall's midterm elections. Speaking as Republicans closed out a two-day rally in Dallas, Texas, Trump called the pledge a Trump dividend and said the money would have to be spent in the United States. Analysts estimate the plan could cost more than a trillion dollars, and Trump has suggested revenue collected from tariffs could help pay for it. Democrats have dismissed the idea as a bribe, while legal experts say such payments would likely require approval from Congress, something Trump disputes. Voters are just over 50 days from deciding who controls Congress.
US President Donald Trump is defending his promise to give every American 5,000 dollars if Republicans win this fall's midterm elections. He made the pledge central to the party's push for votes as Republicans closed out a two-day rally in Dallas, Texas, aimed at building momentum ahead of November's contest for control of Congress.
The offer is sweeping in scope. Trump has said he wants to hand each adult US citizen 5,000 dollars should his party win both the House and the Senate, framing the payment as a reward tied directly to a Republican victory at the ballot box rather than to any existing government program.
Trump has branded the idea the Trump dividend, and he tied it to what he described as the strong economic performance of the United States. Pressed on whether the plan is financially responsible or even doable, he stressed one condition, saying the money would have to be spent inside the country and could not be used to buy things from Germany or Canada.
The potential price tag is enormous. Analysts estimate the plan could cost more than a trillion dollars, and Trump has suggested that revenue collected from tariffs could be used to pay for the program, presenting the import levies as a source of funding for the promised payments.
Within his own party, Republicans have moved quickly to get behind the pledge. Trump's team fired off a fundraising email as the idea gained traction, and one lawmaker said the effort is at its earliest stage, describing it as the president throwing out an idea that it is now up to Congress to turn into workable numbers and detailed policy.
The reaction from opponents has been scathing. Democrats say the extreme pitch shows Republicans are worried about their chances in the midterms and lack a real answer on the cost of living, with critics calling the promise pathetic and casting it as an attempt to effectively buy votes. Some voters interviewed also reacted with open skepticism about ever seeing the money.
There are also questions about whether Trump has the power to deliver it. A lawyer who spoke to CBC News said these kinds of payments would generally require approval from Congress, though Trump has said he does not think that is the case. With just over 50 days until voters decide who controls Congress, Trump is pressing supporters to focus on the payment promise as the campaign ramps up.