President Donald Trump joked his promised $5,000 payments if Republicans win control of the House and Senate in the November midterms would not buy much at his Mar-a-Lago club during a rally speech in Texas. Trump told supporters they could visit the Florida resort as his guests, then said “for $5,000, the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert.” He added that he was not sure the money would cover even that, before telling the crowd Mar-a-Lago was not a good place to go if they were “price conscious.” The remark drew laughter. The exchange has drawn attention as affordability remains a central issue in the closing days of the campaign.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget for comment outside of regular working hours A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that 34 percent of likely voters named the cost of living as the issue most on their minds when considering their vote. In a separate October AP-NORC poll, 84 percent of voters said the cost of living was one of the most important issues in their decision. The surveys asked different questions, but both found that household expenses are a major concern ahead of Election Day.
Trump has made the proposed payment part of his economic pitch, arguing that his policies are improving the economy and that the payment would return money to Americans. His pledge is conditional: it depends on Republicans winning both chambers of Congress, and it has not been authorized. Trump and the White House have described the proposed “Trump Dividend” as a $5,000 payment for every adult U.S. citizen.
The administration has not released a formal plan explaining how people would apply or receive the money, when payments might be sent, or whether income limits would apply. The estimated cost is about $1.2 trillion, based on roughly 240 million eligible adults,. That is far larger than the $1,776 “warrior dividend” paid to military service members in 2025, which came from a housing supplement Congress had already approved.
This is a developing story.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
