Donald Trump has drawn criticism from within his own Republican Party after pledging a $5,000 "dividend" payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm elections. The promise, made at a rally in Dallas, was condemned by some senior Republicans and donors as an inappropriate attempt to buy votes, with one calling it a "bread and circus" bribe, exposing tension between the president's populist instincts and concerns about fiscal responsibility and electoral propriety within his party.

Critics highlighted the enormous cost of the scheme, estimated at between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion, which would far exceed pandemic-era stimulus payments and could worsen the national debt and inflation. Texas Congressman Chip Roy questioned how it would be funded, while Senator Ted Cruz suggested eligibility restrictions were needed, and Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie said he felt "insulted" by the idea his vote could be bought. The pledge follows a pattern of unfulfilled payment promises from Trump, including a $5,000 "DOGE dividend" and $2,000 "tariff dividend," though he did deliver a $1,776 "warrior dividend" to 1.4 million military personnel in December 2025; any new payments would require congressional approval, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune was noncommittal when asked if Republicans would support it.