Can Trump really pay $5,000 to every American adult?

US President Donald Trump has offered every adult American $5, 000 (£3, 700) if Republicans win November's midterm elections, but it is unclear how such a plan would be funded and whether it is legal.

Key points

• According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the US has brought in around $475bn (£203bn) in tariff and excise tax revenue since the beginning of 2025.
• There are almost 270 million American adults, meaning a $5, 000 payout would cost the US administration some $1.3 trillion.
• Nevertheless, more than $100bn (£74bn) has been refunded after the Supreme Court struck down numerous tariffs earlier this year.
• Trump notes every adult American will secure $5, 000 if Republicans win midterms.
• Erica York, a senior economist at the Washington DC-based Tax Foundation, informed the BBC she would be "extremely surprised" if Congress approved any proposal.

While others questioned its legality, his remarks prompted raucous applause from supporters at a party convention on Wednesday night, but Democrats labelled it an "empty promise".

Though US Vice-President JD Vance suggested it might be paid for by tariff revenue and that such cheques would not go to wealthy Americans, trump has given no details on how it would be funded. Is Trump's offer legal?

Under US federal law, it is illegal to offer payments that are intended to influence the way a person is voting.

Nevertheless, some experts have stated the offer created by Trump in Texas on Wednesday could be seen as a pledge to cut taxes. It is legal.

Dr Joan Mahoney, lecturer in law at the University of Southampton, informed the BBC she thought the offer would be legal as it would be similar to a campaign promise – though she stated politicians "don't usually do it quite this explicitly".

"On the one hand it sounds a bit like a bribe, vote for the Republicans and you'll get money, which would be decidedly illegal, " she remarked.

But by contrast it would go to everyone, regardless of how they voted so it isn't in that sense a bribe.

"I think it would be legal. It's the same kind of campaign pledge as saying 'if my party wins we'll reduce taxes'. Every party does that all the time. And that's obviously perfectly legal."

Nevertheless, Laurel Rapp, director of the US and North America programme at Chatham House, informed the BBC that Trump's offer seemed to be "a very different, very transactional agreement" from the kind of promise usually created by candidates in an election period. How much would it cost and can the US afford it?

Aside from the question of legality, some have additionally asked whether Trump's offer would be feasible financially in the context of increasing US debt, partially as of the war in Iran.

Trump offered no details on how such cheques would be funded during his speech.

Congress authorises spending in the US, but the president did not say whether he planned to ask for legislative approval for any payments. And it seems highly unlikely he could approve such a vast sum via presidential executive order.

"This would be one of the worst ways to use $1.3 trillion, " she remarked.

"We're on a very unsustainable track, with deficits only projected to grow and grow, " York continued.

Speaking to Fox News after Trump's speech, Vance indicated that the payments could be funded by funds raised by the president from tariffs.

Nevertheless, such revenue to date falls far short of the capital that would be needed to account for Trump's $5, 000 cheques offer.

For context, the US president additionally informed the Republican convention that the funds would have to be spent in the US, but it is not clear how that would be monitored.

When asked how the payouts could work, the White House remarked in an official note to the BBC: "The doomers and naysayers have consistently doubted President Trump."

"With the continued support of the American people, President Trump will keep delivering real results, " continued spokesman Davis Ingle.

Trump notes every adult American will secure $5, 000 if Republicans win midterms. Four key takeaways from Republican midterms convention. Why has Trump created the offer?

One former Republican strategist and pollster remarked Trump's latest offer should be firmly seen in the context of an election that is now less than two months away.

"It is an extraordinary promise, and I'm not sure where that money is going to come from – but it is campaign season, " Robert Moran informed the BBC.

Chatham House's Rapp remarked Trump was thinking short term to try to keep hold of Congress as he enters the final two years of his term in office.

"Money is something that he is now resorting to because the polling is not looking good for Republicans and the polling is not looking good for him, " she continued. Has anything similar happened before?

It is not the first time that Trump promised such payouts – he has previously proposed $2, 000 cheques to be funded by tariff revenues. Those payouts have not materialised.

Former President Joe Biden was accused of buying votes when he promised $2, 000 Covid stimulus cheques for Americans if two Democratic candidates in Georgia would win election to the US Senate in January 2021.

Meanwhile, a similar matter of legality came to the fore ahead of the 2024 presidential election, during which billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk offered cash incentives to registered voters in seven swing states who signed a certain petition. Extra reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr, White House reporter.

Taken together, the developments around can Trump really pay $5, 000 to every American adult? Point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.