Donald Trump's $5,000 'Trump Dividend' pledge changes, affecting 73 million people

Donald Trump just moved the goalposts on his pledge to give $5,000 to every US citizen, and it could mean that 73 million people are affected.

Of course, most Americans don't actually believe they are going to get a 'Trump Dividend' anyway, but let's see what the latest is, shall we?

Donald Trump's 'Trump Dividends' have been controversial

It's well documented that Donald Trump likes to promise things that he perhaps thinks people won't remember.

He said that his tariffs were such a huge success that he was going to give almost all Americans $2,000 at one point, remember?

That seems to have been a little bit lost in the weeds since then, as loads of people have questioned where it is, whether it was ever possible in the first place, whether it would be a good idea to be doling out checks like that, or whether it is actually a bad idea.

Then, in what has been termed by some as a cheap attempt to curry favor ahead of the midterm elections, he promised that he'd be giving $5,000 checks out - yet more evidence of how successful his tariffs have supposedly been.

But, once again, there's been some confusion - this time it could affect millions of people.

First up, Donald Trump's plan is entirely contingent on him and the Republicans winning the midterm elections, so often a snap judgement call on how a party is doing in government.

Giving away $5,000 checks to millions would be a popular move to many voters, so some have interpreted it as tantamount to bribery.

It was back on September 9 when Trump announced the bold dividend plans, stating: "If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000,

Then, on his beloved Truth Social, he wrote: "The highly popular $5,000 Trump Dividend will be distributed to every U.S. Citizen if, and when, the Republicans win the Midterm Elections!"

That was as recently as last week.

Then, on that same day in Alabama, Trump announced that the dividends would be paid to 'all adult citizens'.

So, which one is it?

Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Trump's dividend numbers don't add up

There are currently around 343 million citizens in the USA, meaning that giving every one of them $5,000 would cost around $1.7 trillion.

If that number was limited to just adult citizens, it would mean that around 270 million checks are to go out, which is 73 million less, but still clocks in around the $1.3 trillion mark.

So, which one is it?

In reality, most US citizens appear to believe it is neither.

Only a few Americans believe they'll get a Trump Dividend

According to Economist and YouGov polls, a vanishingly small number of actual voters believe they'll get the money from Trump.

61% said Trump would never follow through, compared to 21% who said he would.

45% of people polled did not support the plan anyway, compared to 43% who did.

Part of this has to be down to the fact that Americans have heard such pledges from Trump before.

The $2,000 stuff has gone pretty quiet, hasn't it?

As has discussion of the 'DOGE Dividend' from Elon Musk's cost-cutting at government level.

When asked to clarify where the government is at on the issue, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said that the President 'has consistently proven his doubters wrong' and added that 'with the continued support of the American people, President Trump will keep delivering real results.'

We'll have to see if this latest pledge becomes reality - if Trump wins the midterm elections, anyway.