Trump Promises $5,000 Dividend if Republicans Win Both House and Senate

Trump made the promise of a so-called “Trump dividend” at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night. He said the money would have to be spent in the U.S., although he did not offer details on how that restriction would be enforced. TIME has reached out to the White House for comment.“Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate,” Trump said, “I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000, very much like a successful company will do a cash distribution to its shareholders.”Such a plan would require congressional approval. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R, Ohio) endorsed the proposal and said he would prepare legislation to pass the dividend after the election.The proposal could also have significant economic consequences. The U.S. has roughly 240 million adult citizens, according to Census Bureau data, putting the proposal’s cost at approximately $1.2 trillion. Unless offset by new revenue or spending cuts, the payments would likely widen the federal budget deficit—which totaled nearly $1.8 trillion in fiscal 2025—and could add to inflationary pressures.Vice Presiden...