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. 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. The president has linked the money with tariff revenues.
Because with them, it’s negative growth. With us, it’s so positive,” Trump told Fox News after the speech. 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. 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. During his speech on Wednesday, the president said the checks were contingent on voters delivering a Republican majority in the midterms. Critics accused the president of attempting to buy support ahead of November.
Trump has repeatedly floated payments for Americans that have never arrived, including $2,000 checks tied to tariff income, $5,000 checks from DOGE savings and federal funds for healthcare spending. During the Wednesday night speech, Trump compared the payout to the administration’s $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” checks for American military service members. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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