Such a plan would require congressional approval. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R, Ohio) endorsed the proposal and , putting the proposal’s cost at approximately $1.2 trillion. Unless offset by new revenue or spending cuts, the payments would likely widen the federal budget deficit—which in the first 10 months of fiscal 2026 through July.
“The reason the Democrats can’t do that is because they don’t do tariffs, they don’t take in money, all they know is poverty,” the President said.
In his first term, Trump authorized two rounds of congressionally-approved , “I would like to know how they would plan to pay for … back of envelope … well over $1 trillion.”
The Democratic National Committee said Trump and Republicans have repeatedly promised rebate checks that never materialized.
The President previously promised to send to taxpayers and depositing $1,000 or more into eligible Americans’ health savings accounts. None of these payments has gone out: the , which —failed in the Senate. The Administration is “Donald Trump and Republicans are once again offering empty promises to Americans,” DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer said in a “If the Republicans win, you win with us,” Trump said. “Now all we have to do is win.”