Trump criticised for bribing Americans with monetary ‘gift’ promise if he wins election

He called it ‘The Trump dividend’

Trump’s plan would cost more than a trillion dollars, provided that his party win both chambers of Congress in November, as per the BBC.

The US president made the controversial offer as he made a speech at the Republican Party’s first-ever convention in the middle of a US presidential term.

Trump gave no details on how the plan would work, however, nor did he provide any details where over a trillion dollars would come from.

His promise was quickly labelled as an “empty promise” by the Democrats, while others questioned if such a pledge was legal in the first place.

Trump speaking on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. Credits: Getty Images

What Trump’s promise means for the adults in the United States

“I can make this promise to you. And here is my promise. If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate… because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000”, Trump said on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on 9 September, in Dallas, Texas.

As there are nearly 270 adults in America, this means that a $5,000 payout would cost the US government some $1.3 trillion.

“The Trump dividend”, as the president called his promise, would mean that the money must be spent in the US.

According to Sky News, NBC reported that the White House did not immediately respond to questions about where the estimated $1.35trn would come from and how the requirement to spend in the US could be enforced.

Trump speaking on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at in Dallas, Texas. Credit: Getty Images

Would Trump even be allowed to pay citizens $5,000 – revealed

This is not the first time Trump makes a big claim and this kind of promise, so there are questions how it can work, if that promise it's legal or whether it's simply a bribe and how it can be afforded, according to Sky News.

In late 2025, a $2,000 dividend was proposed by Trump from the money raised through tariffs, while he said he didn’t think he needed any Congress approval.

Military members did receive a $1,776 check, however, which was called a “warrior dividend” by Trump.

But Trump had no authority to send money to Americans without approval from Congress, according to Marc Goldwein, the senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

According to Sky News, dividends are something companies pay when there's a surplus, and the The US is running $2trn annual deficits and has $40trn in debt.

Trump's two new ideas for name changes

Trump also addressed the Iran war and said he wants to change the name of the Strait of Hormuz to the “Trump Strait”.

Earlier, Trump said that the conflict would end after the November midterm elections and has made similar remarks about the key waterway, which remains a sticking point in the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

“We're winning it [the war]. We control the Hormuz strait. We should call it the ‘Trump Strait’. I should get something out of it.”

“I'm sure the Iranian leadership will be thrilled with that”, Trump said.

The US president also made reference to Lake Ontario, which amid an escalating trade war with Canada he recently renamed “Lake America”.

Trump said America’s neighbours are “dying” to make a deal before suggesting that the state of New Mexico should be called “New America”.