Donald Trump jokes $5,000 dividend would barely cover a meal at Mar-a-Lago

During a campaign rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, President Donald Trump joked that his proposed $5,000 dividend to American adults would likely only cover a hamburger and a small dessert at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. He advised “price-conscious” individuals to avoid the exclusive resort due to its high costs.

The $5,000 payment, which Trump calls the “Trump Dividend,” is a campaign pledge contingent on Republicans retaining control of both the House and Senate in the November 3 midterm elections. Under the proposal, recipients would be required to spend the funds within the United States.

Estimates suggest the program would cost approximately $1.2 trillion for roughly 240 million eligible recipients. While Trump has suggested tariff revenue could fund the initiative, the plan would require congressional authorization. Economists have noted that such a large one-time payment could potentially exacerbate inflation, and critics have pointed to the lack of a detailed funding or implementation timetable.