Trump promises Americans $5,000 if Republicans win Congress
U.S. President Donald Trump promised a '$5,000 Trump dividend' to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in the upcoming November midterm elections. He urged supporters to 'pretend' he was on the ballot, despite his low approval ratings and ongoing war with Iran.
Why it matters
This extraordinary and fiscally questionable promise highlights Trump's continued influence on the Republican party and his strategy to motivate voters in critical midterm elections, potentially impacting economic policy and political discourse.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (September 10, 2026) promised $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in November, coupling the extraordinary claim with a plea for his supporters to “pretend” he was on the ballot.
“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump dividend,” he told the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, as the party struggles in polls against the Democrats.
The U.S. President did not say where the money would come from — with the theoretical bill likely topping $1 trillion — citing only that “our country is making so much money.”
Doubling down on his bet that he can help Republicans defy opinion polls and retain both houses of Congress on November 3, Trump said: “I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot.”
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