U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to pay every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump made the pledge on Wednesday during the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, placing himself at the centre of the party’s campaign ahead of the elections.
The proposed payment, which Trump described as a “Trump dividend”, would require congressional approval and a funding mechanism that has not yet been explained.
With about 270 million adults in the United States, a $5,000 payment to each would cost approximately $1.35 trillion.
Trump did not provide details of how the proposed dividend would be financed or distributed. He had previously floated the idea of a dividend but had proposed a smaller $2,000 payment earlier in the year.
In his 1 hour, 45-minute address, Trump urged voters to support Republican candidates and warned that handing control of Congress to Democrats would reverse what he described as the gains of his administration.
“We hand America’s future to the radical left Democrats, and our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet,” Trump said.
“Vote Republicans, and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come.”
The president also openly linked his political fortunes to the midterm elections, telling supporters to treat the contest as though he himself were on the ballot.
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” he said.
The two-day convention is being used by Republicans to rally support ahead of the November elections, with Trump expected to deliver the closing address on Thursday after Vice-President JD Vance’s keynote speech.
The gathering comes as Republicans face concerns over Trump’s declining approval ratings and voter dissatisfaction with the cost of living and other issues, including the U.S. war with Iran.
Trump has pledged to campaign extensively in battleground states and congressional districts during the eight weeks leading up to Election Day.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters informally dubbed the gathering “Trumpapalooza”, reflecting the extent to which the president dominated the event.
However, the decision to place Trump at the centre of the midterm campaign presents challenges for Republicans in competitive races. Some candidates may benefit from his support among his core voters, while others risk losing moderate or independent voters by associating themselves too closely with him.
Several Republicans facing difficult contests stayed away from the convention, including Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
Others attended, with at least 16 candidates in competitive House and Senate races scheduled to address the convention, according to the Republican National Committee programme.
Among Wednesday’s speakers were Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a close Trump ally facing Democratic lawmaker James Talarico in a competitive Senate race, and Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, who is challenging former senator Sherrod Brown.
Trump’s proposed payment is significantly larger than the direct federal payments provided to Americans through COVID-19 relief programmes during his first term.
Earlier this year, when discussing a $2,000 dividend, Trump suggested that congressional approval might not be necessary. It remains unclear whether the proposed $5,000 payment could be implemented without legislative action.
The announcement has also drawn comparisons with cash giveaways associated with billionaire Elon Musk during the 2024 election cycle and the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
The Republican-controlled Congress faces voters on November 3, with the outcome expected to determine whether Trump’s party retains control of the federal legislature for the remainder of his term.
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