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US President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult American if Republicans win both chambers of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Trump made the pledge during the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention held during a presidential term. He called the proposed payments “Trump Dividends”.
However, the president gave few details about the plan. He did not explain how the government would fund the payments or how Americans would receive them.
Trump said recipients would have to spend the money inside the United States. He also urged Americans not to take the money abroad.
The proposal could cost the US government about $1.3 trillion. The United States has nearly 270 million adults.
The scale of the proposed payout has already raised questions about its financial and legal feasibility.
Vice-President JD Vance linked the proposed payments to revenue generated by Trump’s tariffs on imported goods.
Vance described the plan as a dividend for American workers. He said the government was collecting significant revenue through Trump’s tariff programme.
Trump has previously proposed $2,000 payments funded by tariff revenue. Those payments never materialised, and Congress has not created a federal dividend programme.
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The Supreme Court also ruled in February that most of Trump’s tariffs were unlawful, adding another complication to the proposal.
Trump’s pledge comes as Americans face continued economic pressure from higher prices and volatile energy markets.
The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted energy markets. Iran has also attacked US bases and regional allies, according to US and allied officials.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major concern. About one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass through the strategic waterway.
Disruptions around the strait have caused sharp movements in global oil prices.
Trump has faced pressure from members of his own party to end the conflict. He has also warned supporters that the war could continue beyond the November elections.
During his convention speech, Trump defended the economic costs of the conflict. He argued that short-term pain was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The proposed payments could also face legal challenges.
US federal law restricts payments designed to influence voting. That issue has received attention in previous US elections.
Trump’s proposal, however, may be legally different because it promises the same payment to all eligible adult citizens.
Some legal experts believe the pledge could amount to a proposed tax benefit rather than a direct payment for votes.
John Day, a New Mexico lawyer, told the Associated Press that the proposal could be legal. He argued that Trump was making a campaign promise to all adult citizens rather than offering money in exchange for a specific vote.
Another election law expert cited by the New York Times said the statement could fall under the First Amendment’s free-speech protections.
The November midterm elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Congress controls federal spending. Trump therefore would need congressional support to create a nationwide payment programme unless another legal mechanism exists.
The proposed $5,000 dividend has already attracted strong reactions. Supporters at the Republican convention welcomed the idea with loud applause.
Democrats, however, have dismissed it as an “empty promise”.
Republican strategist and pollster Robert Moran said the pledge should be viewed in the context of an election that is less than two months away.
The proposal could become a major talking point as both parties campaign for control of Congress.
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