Trump Promised $5,000 to Citizens If the GOP Keeps Congress. He Also Joked it Wouldn’t go Far in Mar-a-Lago.

President Donald Trump joked that his proposed $5,000 cash payment to American adults might barely cover a hamburger and dessert at his Mar-a-Lago club as he promoted the election-linked pledge at a rally in Texas on Tuesday.

Speaking in Corpus Christi, Trump suggested Americans could spend the promised money at businesses across the United States, including his Florida property, before poking fun at the private club's prices.

"The problem is that for $5,000, the most you'll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert," Trump said, according to a transcript of his remarks.

He added that visitors concerned about prices should avoid the club. The comments were made in jest.

The remarks came as Trump repeated his promise to provide $5,000 to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in the November 3 midterm elections.

Under the proposal, married couples would receive $10,000 combined, and recipients would be required to spend the money within the United States.

Trump first introduced the plan, which he calls the Trump Dividend, at a Republican gathering in Dallas on September 9.

A White House statement released the following day described the proposed payments as a way to distribute economic gains to American citizens.

Trump has pointed to tariff revenue and economic growth as reasons the government could afford the program, although the administration has not provided a detailed funding plan or payment timetable.

Distributing $5,000 to every adult American citizen would cost approximately $1.2 trillion, based on an estimated 240 million eligible recipients. The figure, cited by CNBC, is an estimate rather than an approved federal spending commitment.

The proposal would also require congressional authorization, despite Trump's earlier suggestions that he could distribute the payments without lawmakers' involvement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the issue in September, saying Congress would need to act before the checks could be issued.

Johnson expressed support for exploring the proposal but acknowledged that lawmakers would have to determine how to pay for it.

During an appearance on CNN's State of the Union on Sept. 13, Johnson said he expected congressional action would be required. He also pledged to work toward securing an agreement on the payments, according to The Associated Press.

The question of funding has attracted attention from economists, who have warned that distributing such a large amount of money could increase consumer demand and add to inflationary pressures.

A one-time payment could help recipients cover immediate expenses, but its effect on prices would depend on how the program was financed and how quickly households spent the money.

Trump's proposal also differs from existing federal benefits because eligibility is tied to citizenship rather than income, at least under the terms he has publicly described.

No legislation establishing the payment program has been approved, and the administration has not specified when eligible Americans would receive checks.

The president has previously made cash-payment promises that were not fulfilled. In September 2020, ahead of that year's presidential election, Trump pledged $200 prescription-drug discount cards to approximately 33 million Medicare beneficiaries. The cards were never distributed.

The latest cash pledge comes as household expenses remain a prominent concern ahead of the elections. A CNBC All-America Economic Survey of 1,000 registered voters, published Oct. 23, found that 55% believed prices affecting their families were increasing faster than usual.

When asked to identify the country's most important problems, with two responses allowed, 34% selected food and grocery costs, while 23% chose gasoline prices. Government corruption was cited by 36%.

The survey also found that 52% of respondents preferred Democratic control of Congress, compared with 45% who favored Republicans. The results represent national voter preferences rather than forecasts for individual congressional races.

The latest federal data shows consumer prices increased 3.7% over the 12 months ending in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gasoline prices rose 9.1% during September, accounting for more than half of the monthly increase in the overall consumer price index. The broader energy index climbed 5.2%, while shelter costs increased 0.4%.

Trump has continued promoting the dividend at campaign events, telling supporters in Texas that Republicans would deliver the payments if they retained both chambers of Congress.

The president reiterated that the money would have to be spent domestically, joking about vacations abroad before suggesting Americans visit Florida.