Taxes wouldn’t fund $5,000 Trump ‘dividend’ if Republicans win midterms, says commerce secretary

Key Points:

• Donald Trump proposed a $5,000 "Trump dividend" payment to all US adults if Republicans retain control of Congress, claiming it would be funded without using tax revenues or adding to the deficit.
• US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the dividend could be financed through sources like tariff revenues and a new visa program charging wealthy visitors up to $5 million, potentially raising $500 billion.
• The proposal has faced criticism due to the US national debt exceeding $40 trillion, a nearly 300% increase since 2008, raising concerns about fiscal responsibility.
• Other administration officials, including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, indicated multiple legislative paths might fund the payments, emphasizing fiscal responsibility.
• Legal and practical challenges exist, as the Supreme Court ruled that revenue from Trump’s proposed import tariffs must be returned, and previous tariff-based payment proposals exceeded actual revenue raised.