Donald Trump, the President of the United States, promised at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, that if Republicans maintain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections, he will send a $5,000 check to every adult American. This promise has been described as "Trump's dividend" and Trump told his supporters, "If Republicans win, you win with us."
Voter Skepticism
However, a new poll from Economist/YouGov shows that 61% of likely voters are skeptical about this promise, with only 22% believing it will come to fruition. In this poll, opinions about the checks themselves are also evenly divided; 45% oppose the idea of sending checks while 43% support it.
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Factors Influencing Attitudes
Various factors have contributed to this skepticism. One of the main reasons is the lack of sufficient details about the funding source for these checks. Trump has typically made financial promises to the public but has delivered on them less frequently. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he sent stimulus checks with his signature, but his new promises about funding these checks through cuts in government spending and tariffs that have recently been blocked do not seem feasible.
Trump's latest promise could cost the Treasury around $1.3 trillion. Currently, government offices are facing reduced tax revenues and increased expenses, making the realization of this promise a significant challenge.
In this poll, young people and Trump-supporting Republicans showed the most support for these checks; 61% of those aged 18 to 29 and 69% of MAGA Republicans voted positively for the idea. In contrast, Democrats and individuals over 65 are skeptical about this promise, with only 39% of them agreeing with the idea of the checks.
In response to criticism, David Engel, a White House spokesperson, criticized the skeptics, stating that they have consistently underestimated Trump but failed to provide specific details about the funding source. Additionally, J.D. Vance, the Vice President, stated that the funding for these checks might come from tariff revenues.
However, the estimated $132.5 billion in customs revenue generated from January 2025 will not come close to the $1.3 trillion needed to pay for these checks. Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce, also stated that the government is looking for revenue to pay for these checks, not through deficits or taxpayers.
Ultimately, Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, emphasized that this policy requires congressional approval and that Trump cannot achieve this goal without controlling both chambers.
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Source: independent.co.uk
