Trump Jokes His $5,000 Dividend May Barely Cover a Hamburger and a Small Dessert at Mar-a-Lago: ‘I’m Not Even Sure You Could Buy That’
President Donald Trump joked that his proposed $5,000 payment to American adults might barely cover a meal at his Mar-a-Lago club, as affordability concerns dominate the campaign before next month’s midterm elections.
Trump made the remarks during a political rally at Corpus Christi in Texas on Tuesday night. He said the $5,000 payments he has promised could buy only “a hamburger and maybe a small dessert” at Mar-a-Lago.
“Go to Florida, go to any one of our great places. You can even come to Mar-a-Lago,” Trump said.
He added, “I’m not even sure you could buy that,” while warning, “That’s not a good place if you’re price-conscious.”
Trump first announced the proposed $5,000 “Trump dividend” in September, saying every adult U.S. citizen would receive the payment if Republicans retained control of both the House and Senate. At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump tied the potential payout directly to the election outcome. The proposal could reportedly represent more than $1 trillion in federal spending.
Trump’s $5,000 Dividend Faces Affordability Concerns
The President’s comment came one week before the midterm election, with voters increasingly focused on prices and household finances.
The promise is now being discussed against a tougher economic backdrop. A recent poll found that 75% of respondents viewed the economy as “not so good” or “poor,” while Trump’s approval rating reached record lows. Higher gas prices since the war in Iran began were among the factors cited for worsening economic sentiment and weaker assessments of the president’s performance.
Meanwhile, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett dismissed the affordability crisis as “a myth”, arguing that inflation-adjusted U.S. household consumption has increased by $1 trillion since Trump took office. He estimated consumption had risen by about $5,000 per household, crediting higher incomes, capital spending, and job stability. Hassett said the affordability narrative does not align with the economic data.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
