Trump’s US$5,000 election pledge faces funding and legal questions
The US president has offered no details on eligibility, funding or administration for the proposed payment, which could cost about US$1.3 trillion.
US President Donald Trump has pledged to pay US$5,000 to every American if Republicans win November’s midterm elections, presenting a campaign promise whose funding and legal basis remain unclear.
Trump has provided no details on how the payments would be administered or where the money would come from. The proposal could cost the US government about US$1.3 trillion, according to reporting by BBC World.
The pledge’s eligibility rules have not been specified. It is also unclear whether Trump’s condition refers to a Republican victory generally or control of Congress.
Democrats have dismissed the proposal as an “empty promise”, while questions have been raised about whether the payment would be legally permissible.
With no funding mechanism, legislative basis, payment process or timetable outlined, the proposal remains an election pledge rather than an approved government programme.
