Top Republicans were reportedly not given any warning that President Donald Trump would propose sending $5,000 checks to Americans after the midterms, a plan they reportedly have doubts will ever become reality.
Those out of the loop about the proposal included Senate Majority Leader John Thune, The Washington Sun reported.
“It’s not going to happen,” a GOP aide told the outlet, warning that a wave of checks could drive inflation.
Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who criticized the plan on X as a form of unneeded government “dependency,” told the Sun he was not given advance notice of the plan.
The Independent has contacted Thune and the White House for comment.
During his speech on Wednesday at the Republican midterm convention in Texas, President Trump said the administration would pay American adults $5,000 checks if voters helped the GOP retain its majority in Congress.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said. “It will be called the Trump Dividend.”
Since then, the White House has offered few details about the plan, including how it would be funded or why the government wouldn’t send checks to Americans now if it had the money.
The president has linked the money with tariff revenues.
“Because the Democrats can’t do it. Because with them, it’s negative growth. With us, it’s so positive,” Trump told Fox News after the speech. “So, we’re taking in $21 trillion. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that. It’s four or five times higher than the next one. All because of that beautiful word you and I love more than most others, tariffs.”
In a separate interview with CBS Texas, the president said he didn’t think he needed lawmakers’ approval for the payouts, despite the Constitution vesting Congress with the power to collect taxes and direct federal spending.
“Well, we think not,” Trump said. “I think they will do it if we needed it. But we think not.”
During the pandemic, the Biden administration also sent checks to Americans, though these were funded by legislation.
Some Republicans said they were eager to pass the president’s payment plan.
“I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election … because Republicans (and America) will win!” Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio wrote on X after the speech.
“President Trump has consistently proven his doubters wrong, drawing a clear contrast with the Democrats’ record of historic inflation, unfettered illegal immigration, skyrocketing crime, and weakness on the world stage,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle previously told The Independent in a statement when asked about the details of the plan.
During his speech on Wednesday, the president said the checks were contingent on voters delivering a Republican majority in the midterms.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said during his remarks.
Critics accused the president of attempting to buy support ahead of November.
