Republicans Pledge $5,000 to Every Adult If They Win Midterm Elections

September 11, Kathmandu – US President Donald Trump has pledged to give every adult American $5,000 if the Republican Party wins both chambers of Congress in the upcoming November midterm elections.

President Trump proposed this plan during the party’s first national convention. He did not provide clear specifics regarding how the funds would be managed or where the money would come from. Estimates suggest that implementing this plan would cost more than one trillion dollars. Trump stipulated that the money must be spent inside the United States.

Democrats have dismissed Trump’s announcement as an ‘empty promise.’ Other critics have questioned the legal viability of the proposal. The United States has about 270 million adult citizens; distributing $5,000 to each would impose an additional burden of approximately $1.3 trillion on the economy. Discussions are ongoing about the feasibility of this plan amid rising inflation.

The ongoing conflict initiated in February between the US and Israel against Iran has also contributed to inflation. Iran’s retaliatory attacks have targeted US bases and allies in the Gulf region. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial route accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LPG supply—causing fluctuations in oil prices. Trump is facing pressure from within his own party to end the war.

On Wednesday, President Trump warned his supporters that the war would only end after the midterm elections, noting that oil prices would also decrease only afterward. Speaking at a conference in Texas, he justified the need to endure short-term economic hardship to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

At the Dallas conference, Trump promised to improve Americans’ living standards and purchasing power. He said, ‘If Republicans win both the House of Representatives and the Senate, I will give every American adult a $5,000 dividend.’

Trump added, ‘We do not want you to spend this money in Canada. Nor should you lose it in China or Germany; you must spend this money within the United States.’ However, it remains unclear how this expenditure would be monitored.

Trump had made similar promises in the past, including a proposal to issue $2,000 checks funded by customs revenue. Previously, US politicians have pledged financial benefits to secure electoral success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats in Georgia promised $2,000 relief checks if they won the Senate.

In the US, budget approval authority resides solely with Congress. Trump has not indicated plans to seek permission for this payment. He has dubbed this proposal the ‘Trump Dividend.’ The plan raises legal questions since federal law prohibits payments intended to influence voting behavior.

Some experts suggest Trump’s promise can be viewed similarly to a tax cut pledge, which is legally permissible. Election law experts note that Trump’s promise falls under the First Amendment’s protection of free speech rights.