U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) says Republicans are campaigning against Democratic socialism while offering voters a socialist policy of their own: $5,000 government checks.
“Republicans are offering socialism—$5,000 checks for everyone—as an alternative to Democratic socialism,” Massie wrote with video of his remarks on the House floor.
Republicans are offering socialism ($5,000 checks for everyone) as an alternative to Democratic socialism… https://t.co/yHuZCCcxUJ
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 6, 2026
President Trump introduced the proposed “Trump dividend” at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in September, tying the payments to continued GOP control of Congress.
“If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said.
Trump added one condition: “The dividend that we’re making must be spent in the United States of America.”
Massie objected immediately. “I don’t know about you all, but frankly I’m insulted by the notion that my vote this November could be bought for 5k,” he wrote after Trump made the promise. “Not to mention the inflation this would cause.”
The plan would cost approximately $1.2 trillion, according to Reuters, and would need congressional approval. Trump has not explained where the money would come from.
[NOTE: Trump previously proposed distributing money from tariff revenue and from savings attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency. Neither proposal resulted in payments.]
U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) embraced the idea and said he would prepare legislation authorizing the checks after the election.
Other Republicans joined Massie in warning that the payments could deepen the federal deficit and drive prices higher.
“I would personally throw everything of my heart and soul to stop it, because it would actually do more damage to working people than would ever help them,” Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) told Reuters. “It would be on their own credit card and would bring the interest rate death spiral sooner to the United States.”
Former Trump White House press secretary and current Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also criticized government giveaways shortly after Trump announced the plan.
“You do not build a strong economy by giving things away,” Sanders said. “At the end of the day, though, somebody has to pick up the check, and it’s the taxpayers that will ultimately pay the price.”
Trump’s $5,000 promise follows a series of smaller election-season payments. The administration is sending $90 to 20.8 million Medicare enrollees and has distributed $500 payments to approximately 950,000 people insured through HealthCare.gov, according to a Reuters review.
The $5,000 checks remain only a proposal—and have gained little support in Congress—but Trump continues to promote them with the November 3 elections less than a month away.
“I don’t know, but it’s easy if the Republicans win,” Trump said when asked how the government would pay for the checks. “We can easily handle that because we’re taking in so much money.”