Trump: $5,000 Payout Would Only Buy a Hamburger at Mar-a-Lago
The president mocked the purchasing power of his proposed cash giveaway just days before voters weigh in on soaring costs of living.
By Aiko Petrov ·
President Donald Trump told a Texas crowd on Tuesday that his promised $5,000 payment to every U.S. adult would barely cover a meal at his Florida resort. He joked that the cash would buy "a hamburger and maybe a small dessert" at Mar-a-Lago. The remark came seven days before the November 3 midterm elections, where affordability remains the central battleground.
The president has pledged to send $5,000 to each adult citizen if Republicans secure both the House and Senate. He specified that the funds must be spent within the United States. At the rally, Trump encouraged attendees to visit Florida. "The problem is that for $5,000, the most you'll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert," he said. He added with a laugh that he was not sure the money would even cover that, advising price-conscious voters to avoid the club.
Affordability drives the current political climate. An AP-NORC poll from earlier this month found that 84% of U.S. adults listed the cost of living as a top issue. In that same survey, 79% disapproved of Trump's handling of the matter. National polls show Democrats leading in the popular vote for the House. The race for Senate control remains tight in several red-state districts.
Economists have raised concerns about the fiscal impact of such a large one-time transfer. They warn the $1.2 trillion cost could worsen inflation. Prices for essentials like gasoline and groceries have already strained many household budgets. The payment would require Congressional approval to proceed.
Trump has made similar cash pledges in the past that never materialized. In 2020, he promised $200 prescription-drug cards to 33 million Medicare beneficiaries just weeks before the election. Those cards were never issued. The White House renovation has also become a point of contention on the campaign trail.
Former President Barack Obama criticized the redesign during an Ohio rally last week. He said Trump had made the White House look like "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," noting that "there's gold everywhere." Trump responded on Monday by defending the work. He blamed Obama for ignoring necessary repairs and said, "And for you to say it's a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president."
Source: CNBC
