President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday night to issue a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” to every adult American if Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump made the pledge during the first night of the Republican National Committee’s Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas. The two-day convention is the first of its kind for the Republican Party and is being held at the American Airlines Center ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Because we’ve done so well and because our country is making so much money, only I can make this promise to you: If the Republicans win the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous economic success…I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said.
Trump said the payment would come with one condition: recipients would have to spend the money within the United States.
.@POTUS announces the TRUMP DIVIDEND: If Republicans win both the House and the Senate, because of our tremendous economic success, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States for $5,000 pic.twitter.com/s4orJJGx9d
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 10, 2026
“The only condition on the payment of this dividend that we’re going to be making – $5,000 to every adult – the only caveat I have is the dividend must be spent in the United States of America…You’ve got to spend the money in the United States of America,” the president said.
Trump tied the proposed payments to his administration’s tariff policies, arguing that tariffs have generated significant revenue for the federal government.
“The reason the Democrats can’t do that is because they don’t do tariffs, they don’t take in money. All they know is poverty and how to ruin our country,” he said.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump Dividend,” Trump added. “Now all we have to do is win.”
Trump’s announcement follows his introduction last year of “Warrior Dividends” for U.S. service members. In December 2025, Trump announced $1,776 payments for approximately 1.5 million active-duty and reserve service members, tying the amount to the year of America’s founding.
The RNC convention continues Thursday, with Trump scheduled to deliver the event’s keynote address.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
