BlockBeats report: On September 10, Trump made a bold pledge at the Republican midterm election rally: if the Republican Party retains control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections, it will distribute a $5,000 “Trump dividend” to every adult U.S. citizen. The plan is estimated to cost over $1 trillion, but Trump did not specify the funding source, and its implementation would require congressional approval.
This rare pledge highlights the midterm election pressures facing Trump and the Republican Party. Trump’s approval ratings continue to face headwinds, as voter dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the prospect of war with Iran grows; several Republican candidates engaged in tight races even skipped this convention. The Republican Party must also maintain its narrow majority in the House of Representatives and faces competitive races for Senate seats.
In his speech, Trump unusually asked voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” and acknowledged that the president’s party typically loses congressional seats in midterm elections. He also pledged to devote more time to supporting Republican candidates, aiming to reposition himself as the central mobilizing force for the November election.
Meanwhile, the U.S. national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, raising questions about the fiscal feasibility of the $5,000 dividend plan. Within the Republican Party, efforts are emerging to explore alternatives, with Senator Ted Cruz proposing that the program could be structured as a tax refund contingent on employment requirements.