Donald Trump Proposes $5,000 'Trump Dividend' Payout for Every US Adult if Republicans Win Midterms

President Donald Trump proposed a roughly £3,690 ($5,000) 'Trump dividend' for every adult US citizen if Republicans win both the House and Senate in November's Congressional elections.

He used a primetime speech at the party's midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, 9 September, to put the payout at the centre of his campaign pitch.

The Trump dividend was announced as Republicans prepare for elections that could determine control of Congress.

The President gave no detailed mechanism for the payments, and reports say the plan could cost more than $1 trillion and would likely require congressional approval.

Trump Dividend Plan Raises Questions Over Cost

The proposal was announced during Trump's nearly two-hour address at the Republican Party's first midterm convention. The proposal could cost more than $1 trillion, although the total would depend on the eligibility rules ultimately applied.

Trump did not specify a funding source during his speech. Vance later suggested tariff revenues could help finance the payments and indicated that wealthy Americans might be excluded.

That leaves Congress as a potentially decisive part of any attempt to turn the Trump dividend from a campaign promise into a federal payment programme. The unanswered question is how such a programme would be financed and authorised if Republicans secure the result Trump is seeking.

Trump made the offer while urging supporters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his presidency. 'I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot,' he told the convention.

Trump Dividend Pitch Keeps Trump at Centre of Midterms

The convention has placed Trump at the forefront of Republican messaging even though he cannot seek a third presidential term. Vice President JD Vance is due to deliver the keynote address on Thursday night before Trump returns for closing remarks, giving Vance a prominent platform as attention begins to turn towards possible 2028 contenders.

Republicans are relying heavily on Trump's ability to mobilise voters who backed him in the presidential election two years ago. His approval ratings are weak, while public polling has shown Democrats more motivated ahead of the November contests.

Some Republicans in competitive races did not attend the Dallas event. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine were among those who skipped the convention as the party faces the possibility of losing control of at least one chamber of Congress.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, meanwhile, appeared in a prerecorded video introducing Republican Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick.

Fetterman said he would always 'reject the extremes and socialism', although he has rejected speculation that he might leave the Democratic Party.

Trump Dividend Arrives Alongside Wider Republican Attacks

Before Trump spoke, Republican speakers repeatedly portrayed Democrats as 'socialists' and 'communists' while focusing on border security and transgender women in sport. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the party's Senate campaign arm, called Democrats 'dangerous, radical and weird'.

The convention also discussed the war with Iran. Alabama state Representative Ernie Yarbrough said voters wanted a clearer sense of how long the conflict could continue. 'People want to feel like we're not getting stuck in an endless cycle,' he said.

Trump defended the decision to attack Iran and said the action was intended to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. He also promised oil prices would fall 'as soon as we win the war with Iran' and said victory would come soon.

Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, while analysts cited by Reuters have said its nuclear programme has not been eliminated.

Vance is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on Thursday before Trump returns for closing remarks at the two-day Dallas convention.