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President Donald Trump’s announced that his administration would pay $5,000 to each American adult — but only if voters help the GOP keep their congressional majority through the midterms later this year.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said of the plan during his speech at Night 1 of the two-night Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday.
“It will be called the Trump Dividend.”
The president offered few details of his grand plan, notably where the money — theoretically, a bill that could top $1 trillion — would come from, only saying “our country is making so much money.”
He touted the cheques as a reflection of the country’s economic success under the Trump administration and the funds collected as a result of the president’s tariffs, and likened the payments to a corporation’s distributions to shareholders, citing “our tremendous strength and success economically.”
Trump also disclosed that the funds must be spent in America.
He called the proposal the “best part” of his much-anticipated convention speech, comparing the disbursement to the administration’s $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” cheques for American military service members.
Trump: "Only I can make this promise to you: If the Republicans win the House and Senate, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000" pic.twitter.com/OOYAwaQ6HO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 10, 2026
Vance has Trump’s back
Vice President JD Vance defended Trump’s proposal in an interview with Fox News , pointing to revenue from the administration’s tariffs.
“What the president is just saying is… If you keep us in power and allow us to continue to do these things, then you are going to share in some of the benefit of this incredible wealth,” Vance explained.
“I don’t think it’s a controversial idea.”
But many questions remain, including how Trump would finance the more than $1-trillion payments or secure legislative approval for them, not to mention the significant impact it would have on the U.S. economy.
Fox News host Bret Baier points out that Trump's new dividends would cost America $1.3 trillion.
— American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) September 10, 2026
JD Vance claims that it's not a "controversial" idea but gives no answer on where this money would actually come from. pic.twitter.com/orfieDt1re
Trump’s popularity spirals
Opinion polls show that Trump’s approval ratings are in the mid-to-high 30s.
Experts predict Democrats will win back the House of Representatives, but the Senate will be tougher to flip, with battleground races in Maine, Ohio, Michigan and Alaska set to determine control.
Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats to win the House 230-205, and the Senate to finish 51-49 in their favour in November.
Trump scoffed at the opinion polls, insisting he’s the person to think about ahead of the midterms.
‘Pretend’ you can vote for Trump
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” he told the crowd at the American Airlines Center, before repeating, “I’m on the ballot, I’m on the ballot — just one more time.”
It was a bold move to try to convince Republican voters to approach Nov. 3 as if Trump is the face of the midterms.
But is he writing hypothetical cheques his body can’t cash, given Trump is not legally eligible for office at the next presidential election?
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You would never know it from the Republican convention, which seemed more like a Trump campaign rally with chants of “USA! USA!” echoing throughout the building and during his speech.
Dallas local Tracey Wroblski said Trump was “on fire” with his midterm messaging.
“It’s awesome, it’s meaty, it’s we’re fixing our country,” she told AFP.
“He’s funny, and he’s on point,” she continued. “We’re not going to communism. We’re staying Republican, thank you very much.”
—With files from AFP