“It will be called the Trump dividend,” he said in Dallas, and added a caveat — the money must be spent within the United States — though he offered few further details.
After the president’s speech, Vice President JD Vance defended the proposal in an interview with Fox News, pointing to revenue from the administration’s tariffs. But many questions remain, including how Mr. Trump would finance the payments or secure legislative approval for them.
The proposed payouts, which would cost the government more than $1 trillion, could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. They echo other suggestions by the Trump administration that have not materialized.
Could Mr. Trump unilaterally approve the payments?
Experts say he would likely need the approval of Congress, which under the Constitution has sole spending authority for the U.S. government. That means he would probably be unable to issue the checks via an executive order, said John Day, a former prosecutor in New Mexico who now handles cases involving government misconduct and civil rights.Mr. Trump in his speech likened the payouts to the $1,776 checks he gave to members of the military last year, which had been drawn from funds appropriated by Congress for housing enhancements.