US President Donald Trump has promised to pay $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress after the November midterm elections.
Trump made the pledge on Wednesday at the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, where he urged voters to support the party’s candidates despite his name not appearing on the ballot.
He described the proposed payment as a federal “dividend” but did not provide details on how it would be financed, administered or distributed.
Trump said the payment would be conditional on Republicans winning both the House of Representatives and the Senate, arguing that the proposal was possible because of what he described as the country’s economic strength.
He also attached a condition to the proposed payment, saying recipients would be required to spend the money within the United States.
The proposed scheme could represent a huge financial commitment for the US government, with estimates suggesting that paying $5,000 to about 270 million American adults could cost roughly $1.35tn.
Questions have also been raised over the legality and practical implementation of the proposal, while Vice President JD Vance reportedly suggested that wealthier Americans could be excluded from the payment.
The pledge comes as Republicans seek to defend their congressional majorities in the November 3 midterm elections, in which all House seats and about one-third of Senate seats are being contested. Trump has urged voters to treat the election as though he himself were on the ballot.
