To pay every American adult $5,000 would cost over close to $1.3 trillion based on an estimate gathered from census data.
President Donald Trump's surprise proposal during the Republican midterm convention Wednesday night to offer $5,000 "dividend" checks to every American if Republicans win the midterm elections not only faces political and financial hurdles, but it fits a pattern by the president of unfulfilled promises of big cash payouts, sometimes ahead of consequential elections.
The major hurdles
To pay every American adult $5,000 would cost close to $1.3 trillion, based on an estimate gathered from census data. The president did not say how he'd pay for it, but in the past, he's suggested payments to Americans could come from tariff revenue.
But even if the government saved up every dollar collected from the president's tariffs, that wouldn't amount to enough to cover $5,000 checks for every American.