House Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump's $5,000 'dividend' needs
congressional approval
[September 14, 2026]
By DIDI TANG
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's proposal to send $5,000 to
every American adult if his Republican Party maintains control of the
House and Senate in the November election needs congressional approval,
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday, while pledging to try to make it
happen.
Trump made the unusual pitch at the party's midterm convention in Dallas
last week, promising a “Trump Dividend” if voters keep the GOP in power
on Capitol Hill. The president later told CBS News Texas that he did not
think Congress would need to authorize the payments, though he did not
specify how he could spend more than $1 trillion without lawmakers'
authorization.
But Johnson, R-La., said congressional approval is needed. “I would
assume, yes, he'd need Congress to act, and that's a creative idea,” he
said.
A few hours later, Trump said he would deliver on his promise. “The
5,000’s going to happen, 100%,” he told reporters before boarding Air
Force One in Ireland, where he attended a pro golf tournament at his
resort.
Johnson, meanwhile, said he would work to get Trump's proposal through
Congress despite a small Republican margin.
“He’s the big ideas president. We’re going to try to implement
everything we can,” he said. "I commit that Congress will work through
it and find consensus on that like they have to do everything else.”
The dubious election-year gambit could cost more than $1 trillion,
putting further strains on the country's nearly $1.8 trillion annual
budget deficit and exacerbating concerns of inflation. The economy is
confronted by persistent inflation and increasing interest rates, a
tough combination for governing Republicans as they seek to hold on to
control of Congress.
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President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives on the stage
at the Republican convention Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Dallas.
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The president argues that payments would be possible because of the
strong economy, but consumer sentiment is weak as gasoline prices
rise because of the war with Iran and wages struggle to keep pace
with inflation.
Trump told reporters earlier Sunday that the payments would be “easy
enough” because the United States has a strong economy.
“We can easily handle that because we're taking in so much money,”
he said. “We've never done better.”
Just one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the
presidency, according to a July poll from The Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs Research. That compares with 37% in June
and 42% who approved of his work when he took office. Majorities
also disapprove of his handling of the economy and immigration,
issues that were central to Trump’s election in 2024.
On Sunday, Trump said the gas price will “drop like a rock” but
indicated no deal any time soon with Iran to end the conflicts and
reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
___
Johnson appeared on CNN's “State of the Union” and NBC's “Meet the
Press.”
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