US President Donald Trump has renewed his promise to pay $5,000 to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 2026 midterm elections.

Trump restated the proposal in a video shared on Saturday, October 3, describing the proposed payment as a dividend that would be supported by revenue from tariffs and what he called the country’s strong economic performance.

The president said the proposed programme would cost approximately $1 trillion, while claiming that investments worth about $21 trillion had been made in the United States over the previous 15 months.

He argued that a Republican victory in both chambers would make the payment possible, while warning that a Democratic victory could lead to serious economic difficulties.

Trump also maintained that his administration was collecting substantial revenue through tariffs, which he believes could help finance the proposed payments.

The promise is not new. Trump first announced the $5,000 proposal at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on September 9, 2026. He told supporters that every adult US citizen would receive the money if Republicans won control of both chambers of Congress.

However, independent assessments have raised questions about whether the proposal can be financed through tariff revenue.

A September analysis by FactCheck.org estimated that sending $5,000 to approximately 245 million adult US citizens would cost around $1.2 trillion. It also found that tariff collections were considerably below the amount required to finance the programme, estimating that it would take more than six years of tariff revenue to cover the proposed payment cost at the rates and revenue levels examined.

The proposal would also require congressional approval because the US Constitution gives Congress authority over federal spending. As of October 3, no legislation authorising the nationwide $5,000 payments had been enacted.

Trump pointed to a separate $1,776 payment made to US military personnel as an example of his administration delivering financial benefits. The payment, known as the “Warrior Dividend”, was announced in December 2025.

However, reporting by the Associated Press explained that the military payments were funded through previously approved military housing funds under the administration’s tax and spending legislation, rather than directly through tariff revenue.

Trump also repeated his claim that the United States had attracted approximately $21 trillion in investments during the period he referenced. That figure is an administration claim and should be distinguished from independently confirmed investment spending; announced investment commitments do not necessarily mean that all the money has already been deployed.

The president concluded his latest message by promising to sign the proposed payments if Republicans secured victories in both chambers in November.

The proposal has become part of the Republican campaign conversation ahead of the midterm elections, but its implementation remains uncertain. The outcome of the election alone would not automatically authorise the payments, as lawmakers would still need to approve the necessary funding and legislation.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia