Trump makes a familiar promise: $5,000 checks for everyone
Por Ben Berkowitz — Axios
President Trump is promising $5,000 checks for every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress in the upcoming midterm election.
Why it matters: He’s made similar suggestions before, many times, none of which ever came to pass.
- It’d also cost more than $1 trillion to fulfill.
Driving the news: At Wednesday night’s GOP midterm convention, Trump made the unexpected offer.
- If Republicans keep control of both the House and the Senate, Trump said, “”I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000.”
Yes, but: It’s not the first time the president has suggested some sort of rebate for Americans from his administration’s policy actions.
- In July 2025 and again in October 2025, he proposed the possibility of tariff rebate checks of up to $2,000.
- Before that, in February 2025, Elon Musk floated the idea of $5,000 dividend checks from DOGE savings, an idea Trump later backed.
- None of those were ever issued.
Follow the money: The Census Bureau estimates there are about 245 million adult U.S. citizens.
- Giving each of them $5,000 would cost $1.2 trillion.
- Last fiscal year the government spent about $7 trillion, so Trump’s proposal would nominally increase federal spending by more than 15%.
What we’re watching: The midterm is in 54 days.
- If the GOP does pull off a sweep, expect to see Trump’s promise all over TV the next day.
Fonte: Axios
