Trump jokes $5,000 cash would buy hamburger and dessert at Mar-a-Lago

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump joked that the $5,000 payments he promised U.S. adults would only buy "a hamburger and maybe a small dessert" at his Mar-a-Lago club, highlighting concerns about affordability ahead of the midterm elections.
• Trump pledged $5,000 to every adult citizen if Republicans win both the House and Senate, specifying the money must be spent within the U.S., but economists warn such a payment could worsen inflation and have limited impact on cost-of-living pressures.
• Cost of living is a dominant issue for voters in the November 3 elections, with 84% of U.S. adults naming it a key factor and 79% disapproving of Trump's handling of the matter, while polls indicate Democrats are favored in House races and competitive in Senate contests.
• The proposed $5,000 payments would cost approximately $1.2 trillion and require Congressional approval; Trump has previously made similar cash payment promises that did not materialize, such as the unissued $200 prescription-drug cards for Medicare beneficiaries in 2020.
• Trump defended his controversial White House renovation against criticism from former President Obama, who compared it to a "Cheesecake Factory," with Trump blaming Obama for neglecting necessary repairs during his administration.