President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday to send every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, an extraordinary gambit to reverse his party's sagging fortunes in November.
The dubious promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflation.
“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000," Trump said during the GOP's midterm convention in Dallas. "It will be called the Trump Dividend.”
He likened the payments to a corporation's distributions to shareholders, citing “our tremendous strength and success economically."
Within an hour, Vice President JD Vance appeared to try to walk back Trump’s proposal — at least in part — by suggesting the dividend payments would not go to the wealthy. Vance suggested it could be paid for by U.S. tariff revenues, though the suggested payment dwarfs what the U.S. has taken in through the protectionist measures.
The White House did not respond to a message seeking details.
Congress would need to approve or otherwise acquiesce to the payment. The sum would far exceed U.S. tariff revenues even before the Supreme Court tossed much of the president’s tariff program last year.
The national debt last month topped $40 trillion for the first time.
Trump has frequently lamented that, during the modern era, the president's party almost always loses seats in Congress during the midterms, and he has looked for unorthodox ways to defy the trend, including this week's convention.
“We’re going to change that,” Trump said. “There’s no reason for it.”
Trump's proposal would have to be approved by Congress, but it would be legal because the payment would go to everyone regardless of how they voted, or whether they voted at all, said New Mexico-based attorney John Day.
“This is a campaign promise,” Day said. “It’s not a payment to individuals to try to get them to vote in a particular way.”
The move was reminiscent of billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to buy votes in last year’s Wisconsin state Supreme Court race, where he handed out million-dollar checks to voters to try to boost a candidate who ultimately lost.
Trump has discussed the possibility before but has never tied it to his party's electoral fortunes. Earlier this year, he proposed a $2,000 dividend and said he didn't think he needed approval from Congress.
Last year, Trump gave members of the military a $1,776 check that he called a “warrior dividend.”
“I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election,” Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio wrote on X late Wednesday. “Because Republicans (and America) will win!”
A $5,000 check would give each American more money than they received in direct government payments from COVID-19 relief measures during Trump’s first term.
Republicans are on defense as they look to defend their narrow House majority against strong headwinds. Trump is unpopular, and Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iran. Even the Senate, which Republicans once were well-positioned to keep, is up for grabs.
President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican convention Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks during the RNC Midterm Convention, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
SEATTLE (AP) — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury that knocked him out of Seattle's season opener against the New England Patriots on Wednesday night, a potentially significant blow to the Super Bowl champions' title defense.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold didn't break any bones while adding that more tests were needed.
Darnold was sacked on Seattle's first series by Dre'Mont Jones, and the quarterback's right leg appeared to take the brunt of the impact as Jones drove him to the turf. Darnold limped off the field, was examined in the sideline medical tent and then limped to the locker room.
The Seahawks initially said Darnold was questionable, then announced before halftime that he would not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced him and went 16 of 22 for 187 yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks rallied for a 13-10 victory.
“At this point we were able to rule out a fracture,” Macdonald said, calling the initial diagnosis “positive.”
Darnold's injury was a deflating early moment for Seattle in the rematch of last season's Super Bowl, in which the Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13.
Darnold, 29, did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to the title. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games.
It was his first season with the Seahawks after reviving his career with the Vikings in 2024, when he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Drafted third overall in the 2018 draft out of Southern California by the New York Jets, Darnold had a 13-25 record and a 78.6 passer rating over his initial three seasons for the Jets. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and was the backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco.
Darnold was 1 of 2 for 13 yards against New England before he left.
Lock was shaky at the start but with Seattle down 10-3 in the fourth quarter, he hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1, and the star receiver dashed to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.
“It’s tough losing (Darnold). I mean, he’s the head of the snake, but we have each other’s backs,” Smith-Njigba said. “We fully trust in Drew Lock to come in and do his thing, done it time and time again. So we just have to have each other’s backs.”
Lock, 29, has spent two stints with the Seahawks. He was with Seattle from 2022-23, then spent a season with the New York Giants before returning last year.
He played only in mop-up duty last season, completing two passes for 15 yards in five games.
Lock, a second-round pick out of Missouri by the Broncos, started for Denver in 2020, throwing for 2,933 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, (14) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, during the first half an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, down center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, as New England Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder (91), linebacker Robert Spillane (14), linebacker Christian Elliss (53), and defensive tackle Milton Williams (97) look on during the first half an NFL football game , Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws a pass during warmups before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold turns with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, left, as Seattle Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole is at right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
