Trump reveals why $5,000 checks can wait until after the midterms

Catch up quick: Trump promised at the GOP midterm convention Wednesday night that Americans will get a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate.

• "I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," he told the gathering in Dallas.

What he's saying: When asked by Fox News' Laura Ingraham why he promised the checks for after the midterms, Trump said Democrats wouldn't support the measure now.

• "I'll tell you what, because the Democrats can't do it," he said. "Because with them it's negative growth with — with us it's so positive."

Reality check: Republicans already control the House and Senate, though Democrats can still block many bills in the Senate.

Zoom in: Trump told Ingraham tariff revenue will make the checks possible.

• However, the math reveals a high cost: Giving $5,000 to every adult citizen could cost roughly $1.3 trillion.

Zoom out: Trump has made these types of promises before, though no checks were ever issued.

• In July and October of last year, he suggested sending Americans tariff rebate checks of up to $2,000.
• Trump also backed an idea floated by Elon Musk in February 2025 to send Americans $5,000 dividend checks from DOGE savings.

Go deeper: The macroeconomics of $5K checks