Can Trump really pay $5,000 to every American adult?
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Can Trump really pay $5,000 to every American adult?
Image source: EPA
By Alex Boyd
Published 34 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has proposed giving every adult American $5,000 (£3,700) if Republicans win the November midterm elections. However, details on how this plan would be funded and its legality are unclear.
His announcement sparked enthusiastic applause from supporters but was met with skepticism by Democrats, who called it an "empty promise." Others questioned its legal validity.
While Trump has remained silent on funding sources, Vice-President JD Vance suggested tariff revenue could be used, and assured that the payments would not go to wealthy Americans.
Is Trump’s offer legal?
Under US federal law, direct payments intended to influence voting are illegal. However, some legal experts argue that Trump’s proposal might be interpreted as a tax cut pledge, which is legally permissible.
Dr Joan Mahoney, a law lecturer at the University of Southampton, believes the offer could be considered legal as it resembles a campaign promise:
"On the one hand, it sounds like a bribe—vote for Republicans and you get money. But on the other, it’s given to everyone regardless of their voting preferences, so it isn’t inherently corrupt… I think it would be legal."
Laurel Rapp from Chatham House disagrees, stating that Trump’s offer is "a very different, very transactional agreement" compared to typical campaign promises.
How much would it cost and can the US afford it?
Beyond legality, there are financial concerns. With nearly 270 million adults in the US, a $5,000 payout would total around $1.3 trillion—a significant sum, especially considering increasing national debt, partly attributed to the Iran war.
Erica York, an economist at the Tax Foundation, doubts Congress would approve such a proposal:
"This would be one of the worst ways to use $1.3 trillion."
JD Vance suggested tariff revenue could fund these payments, but current figures fall short of the required sum. Trump also stated that the money must be spent within the US, raising further questions about the feasibility of his proposal.
