'When I say something, I mean it': Trump posts $5K dividend message after 9/11 Pentagon visit

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, September 11, doubled down on his proposed $5,000 dividend, saying it will happen despite Democratic criticism.

The proposal would provide $5,000 to American adults and is tied to revenue Trump said is coming from tariffs.

Trump posted the message on Truth Social after speaking at the Pentagon during the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Trump insists the dividend will happen

Trump wrote that the proposed payment is being criticized by “Dumocrats” who hope it never happens, but insisted, “But it will!”

“When I say something, I mean it!” Trump wrote. “The $5,000 Dividend will happen because the People of our Country deserve it.”

He pointed to the passage of the “Great Big Beautiful Bill” and the $1,776 payments he said he gave the military last year as examples of initiatives that critics said could not happen.

Trump had previously said at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday that Americans would receive $5,000 if Republicans retained control of the House and Senate.

“If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said.

According to multiple reports, Trump has not provided details on how the proposed dividends would be distributed or whether he would ask Congress to authorize them.

President Trump ties payments to tariff revenue

The post also followed Trump's Fox News interview clip shared Thursday, in which he defended waiting until after the midterms to make the payments.

Asked by Laura Ingraham why he would not give the money immediately if the government had it, Trump said, “Because they can't. I'll tell you what. Because the Democrats can't do it.”

Trump linked the proposed payments to tariff revenue and economic growth, saying the government was taking in “twenty one trillion dollars” and crediting tariffs for the figure.

“Because with them it's negative growth,” Trump said. “With us it's so positive.”

Vice President JD Vance separately described the proposal as “fundamentally a dividend for American workers.”

“We're taking in an extraordinary amount of revenue because the president of the United States is actually standing up to both foreign companies and also foreign countries who've been taking advantage of America's workers for pretty much my entire life,” Vance said.

The proposed checks could cost $1 trillion

The Bipartisan Policy Center reported that the US had brought in just under $500 billion in tariff and excise tax revenue since the start of last year, while more than $100 billion had been refunded following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of the administration's tariffs.

Sending $5,000 checks to approximately 245 million adult citizens could cost more than $1 trillion, according to the report.

There is precedent for broad household payments. Congress authorized several rounds of checks during 2020 and 2021 as part of efforts to stimulate the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report also said economic stimulus programs can contribute to inflation, with many economists believing pandemic-era stimulus was at least partially responsible for the increase in consumer prices that followed.

Trump compared the proposed dividend with Trump Account child investment funds, which were authorized by Congress, and last year's “warrior dividend” bonuses for US service members, funded through a military housing supplement approved by lawmakers.