"I don't know, but it's completely easy if the Republican Party wins. We can absolutely manage the USD 5,000 for all adults across the country because we are bringing in a lot of money," President Donald Trump told reporters today, when asked if the US Congress would need to approve the funds he had promised.
Trump had previously promised to give USD 5,000 to every adult American citizen if the Republican Party maintained control of Congress after the midterm elections on 3/11, with the condition that the money must be spent in the US. If he fulfills this promise, the total expenditure would be USD 1.3 trillion.
"The Democratic Party cannot make that promise, because if they win, everything will immediately get worse, and we will fall into a recession. I made that promise and always keep my word," he emphasized.
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US President Donald Trump in Dublin, Ireland on 12/9. Photo: AFP |
Speaking to ABC News on 11/9, the US President rejected the idea that the funds were meant to encourage voter turnout. Instead, he asserted it was a "dividend" people deserved from economic growth and a "reward for those who have suffered through the terrible situation lasting four to five years caused by Joe Biden."
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on 12/9 that the US Congress would "discuss and seek to resolve" President Trump's commitment regarding these funds.
"It needs time. I never make significant commitments right from the start, because each issue must be reviewed and addressed, which is what we do every day," Johnson said when asked whether he would commit to fulfilling President Trump's promise, also pointing out the Republican Party's current narrow majority in Congress.
Trump's declaration of the USD 5,000, made at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas on 9/9, met with concern from Democratic lawmakers, some Republican legislators, and economic experts. Critics argued this move was an attempt to "buy votes" from constituents and could lead to increased inflation.
The White House indicated on 10/9 that the funds could come from private sector investment commitments that the Trump administration had received from businesses. However, it remains unclear how these investments, which have not yet been realized, would translate into "dividends" to be distributed to Americans.
President Trump also suggested that the proposed funds would be financed by the nation's "extraordinary growth."
