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Is Trump's $5,000 'dividend' legal and how would it work?
The plan would cost about $1.2 trillion and faces questions over funding and legality, while Democrats call it an empty promise.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump proposed a $5,000 'Trump dividend' payment at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, contingent on Republicans retaining control of the House and the Senate in November.
The proposed $1.2 trillion payment to about 240 million Americans far exceeds the CBO's $167 billion in current fiscal revenue. Vice President JD Vance suggested funding via tariff revenue, though Democrats labeled it an 'empty promise.'
Republicans control both chambers by narrow margins, but Democrats would likely block legislation in the Senate, where a supermajority of 60 votes is required. Republicans could invoke a complex budget process to bypass opposition.
Legal experts question whether the pledge stands up, yet the Supreme Court ruled in a 1982 case involving a Kentucky official that campaign promises are legal. Challenging the dividend in court would prove difficult for voters.
Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds ticked up to 4.91% on Thursday as investors assessed the proposal. Economists warn the massive influx of debt, combined with revived inflation fears, could drive borrowing costs higher and worsen the government's budget gap.
Promises of cash gifts are common. But they are rarely fulfilled. US President Donald Trump's latest promise of $5,000 in dividends to the people is criticized and rejected.
Donald Trump has promised every adult American $5,000 if the Republicans win the election. The BBC analyzes whether such an offer is legal, how much it would cost