Trump defends timing of $5,000 dividend announcement

President Trump defended the timing of his proposal to give every U.S. adult a $5,000 dividend — but only if Republicans maintain their majorities in the House and the Senate.

“Why not just give the money now? If you have the money, why not give it now?” Fox News’s Laura Ingraham asked Trump in an interview that will air in full Thursday night.

“Because the Democrats can’t do it, because for them it’s negative growth,” Trump responded. “But with us, it’s so positive.”

“We’re taking in $21 trillion. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that,” he continued. “It’s four or five times higher than the next, all because of the beautiful word that you and I love more than most others: tariffs.”

It’s unclear how the president would be able to implement such a move, given there are 270 million American adults, meaning the endeavor would cost the government roughly $1.35 trillion.

The proposal received immediate blowback following Trump’s announcement Wednesday night at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention.

In a social media post Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) likened the proposal to bribery.

“Trump’s presidency is so failed and broken, he is resorting to trying to bribe the American people for their votes,” Schumer wrote.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) responded to the dividend, writing on social media, “Or maybe some of us think dependency is evil & soul-sucking in all its forms.”

Vice President Vance defended the policy on Wednesday, suggesting tariff revenue could cover the costs.

“We’re taking in an extraordinary amount of revenue because the president of the United States is actually standing up to both foreign companies but also foreign countries who have been taking advantage of America’s workers for pretty much my entire life,” the vice president said.

“I don’t think it’s a controversial idea. It’s actually the president of the United States saying we’re all working together. We’re all on the same team, and if we continue to create wealth, that wealth is going to go back to the American people,” he continued.