US President Donald Trump has said that every adult in the US would receive 5,000 dollars if Republicans win the midterm elections, a plan that could cost more than a trillion dollars, the BBC reports.
Trump did not provide details on how the plan would work or where the money would come from, only saying that the money would have to be spent in the US. Vice President JD Vance linked the plan to the profits from higher import tariffs.
Democrats have called the plan an empty promise, and others have questioned whether the promise is feasible and even legal. This would be the first time a US president has offered such a payment in connection with an election.
The United States has nearly 270 million adult citizens, which means that 5,000 dollars for each person would amount to nearly 1.3 trillion dollars. Questions have been raised about whether such a plan is feasible, especially given the rising prices in the United States, which have been partly caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also included attacks on US bases and allies in the Persian Gulf, but most importantly, Iran has virtually shut down shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas. This has caused significant fluctuations in oil prices around the world, and
Trump is feeling pressure from within his own party to end the war.
On the 9th of September, Trump said that the war would not end before the midterm elections in November, and that oil prices would not fall until then. In a lengthy speech to a Republican convention in Texas, he got to the heart of the conflict – its impact on the quality of life for Americans. His promises to improve it drew thunderous applause. Trump said that if Republicans won the midterm elections, he would give every adult 5,000 dollars. He added that he did not want the money to be spent in Canada, China or Germany – it would have to be spent in the US. It is not clear how the spending would be monitored.
The BBC has asked the White House for comment on how Trump’s plan would work.
Former Republican strategist Robert Moran said the pledge should be seen in the context of the election. It was an unusual promise and he was not sure where the money would come from, but it was campaign time. Moran called Trump’s promise an innovative solution to an interesting problem, noting that historically, the president’s party has lost seats in Congress in midterm elections.
Other US politicians have also promised to exchange rewards for electoral success.
For example, the Democratic Party of Georgia promised 2,000 dollars in support payments during the pandemic if the party wins control of the Senate.
The US Congress allows such spending. The midterm elections on the 3rd of November will determine whether Trump’s party can retain its majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In a speech in Texas, Trump did not say whether he planned to seek congressional approval for the payments, which he called “Trump dividends.”
However, in addition to the cost to the treasury, Trump’s promise also raises legal questions. Federal rules prohibit payments aimed at influencing votes. The issue came into focus ahead of the 2024 presidential election, when Trump supporter and billionaire Elon Musk offered to pay registered voters in five swing states if they signed a petition. Meanwhile, some experts have suggested that Trump’s offer could be interpreted as a tax break, which is legal.
Read also: Trump: Iran war will end immediately after midterm elections