Donald Trump’s most recent attempt to rally voters came in a Dallas keynote where he announced a $5,000 “dividend” that would be paid to every adult American if Republicans keep majorities in both houses of Congress this fall. The proposal was met with skepticism from Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who said the idea would be considered when the time came and declined to endorse it publicly.
The White House issued a fact sheet framing the dividend as a return of the nation’s prosperity, citing trillions in private investment and cuts in government waste. However, the plan has lost traction on Capitol Hill, where Republican polling is weak. An Economist/YouGov poll found that 61 percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance, with higher disapproval among men, white voters, Hispanics, and those without college degrees. Democrats hold a seven‑point lead on a generic ballot.
Republican hopes to limit losses are also challenged by state races. In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins trails Democrat Troy Jackson in a recent poll, and in Michigan, Democratic nominee Abdul El‑Sayed is slightly ahead of Republican Mike Rogers in a Trafalgar poll. Trump’s own rhetoric has also drawn criticism, such as his endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a candidate with low polling numbers and a controversial record.
The $5,000 offer may be a last‑minute strategy to energize the base amid an expected November electoral downturn. With the war likely to continue into election season and Congress still out of session, the White House has limited options to build momentum before the polls open.
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