President Donald Trump is doubling down on his controversial proposal to hand every U.S. adult a $5,000 dividend—but there’s a major catch: the payout is contingent on Republicans maintaining their majorities in both the House and the Senate.
During an interview with Fox News’s Laura Ingraham airing Thursday night, Trump was pressed on why he wouldn’t simply distribute the funds immediately. “Why not just give the money now? If you have the money, why not give it now?” Ingraham asked.
“Because the Democrats can’t do it, because for them it’s negative growth,” Trump replied. “But with us, it’s so positive.”
He credited the plan to the massive revenue he claims is being generated by his trade policies. “We’re taking in $21 trillion. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that,” he said. “It’s four or five times higher than the next, all because of the beautiful word that you and I love more than most others: tariffs.”
The sheer scale of the proposal—which would cost roughly $1.35 trillion to cover the nation’s 270 million adults—has left many questioning its feasibility and legality.
RELATED: Lindsay Clancy’s Attorney Says He Hopes Donald Trump Would Consider A Pardon For His Client
The announcement, made Wednesday night at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention, was met with immediate backlash. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer didn’t hold back, taking to social media to call the move a blatant attempt at bribery. “Trump’s presidency is so failed and broken, he is resorting to trying to bribe the American people for their votes,” Schumer wrote.
Even within his own party, the proposal has faced skepticism. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) voiced his opposition on social media, writing, “Or maybe some of us think dependency is evil & soul-sucking in all its forms.”
Vice President Vance, however, has stood by the policy, arguing that tariff revenue provides a solid foundation for the initiative. “We’re taking in an extraordinary amount of revenue because the president of the United States is actually standing up to both foreign companies but also foreign countries who have been taking advantage of America’s workers for pretty much my entire life,” Vance said.