President Donald Trump says the proposed “Trump dividend” would be limited to U.S. citizens and funded by what he describes as the country’s strong economic performance, but questions remain over its estimated $1.2 trillion cost.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to introduce a $5,000 payment for every adult American citizen if Republicans maintain control of Congress in the November midterm elections.

Trump announced the proposed payment, which he referred to as a “Trump dividend,” while addressing Republicans at their midterm convention in Dallas. He used the announcement to urge voters to support Republican candidates and help the party retain its congressional majority.

The president, however, provided few details about how the proposed programme would operate or when eligible Americans would receive the money.

Trump said the payment would be available only to U.S. citizens and indicated that recipients would be required to spend the money within the United States.

According to the president, the programme would be financed by what he described as America's “tremendous economic success.”

The proposal could represent one of the largest direct government payments to American households in recent history. With an estimated 240 million adult U.S. citizens, a $5,000 payment to each eligible adult could cost the federal government approximately $1.2 trillion.

That figure has raised questions about the feasibility of the proposal, particularly regarding its funding and potential impact on the federal budget.

Republican Congressman Chip Roy of Texas has already expressed doubts about the plan, pointing to the enormous financial commitment it would require.

The proposal has also attracted criticism from within Republican circles. One Republican operative questioned whether the announcement was partly intended to influence the political atmosphere ahead of the November elections.

Trump also compared the proposed dividend with a $1,776 payment made to U.S. military personnel in 2025. However, the military payment was linked to a housing stipend that had already been authorised by Congress and was not a newly created programme initiated by Trump.

The proposed $5,000 dividend would therefore require a separate funding mechanism and, depending on how it is structured, could require congressional approval.

Trump's announcement comes as both Republicans and Democrats prepare for a closely watched midterm election campaign. Control of Congress will be a major political battleground, with the outcome expected to shape the president's ability to advance his legislative agenda during the remainder of his term.

While Trump presented the proposed payment as a potential benefit of America's economic performance, questions over its cost, legal structure, funding source and congressional approval are likely to remain central to the debate as the election approaches.