A reporter asked President Donald Trump why he needed to incentivize voters with a $5,000 check if his economic policies were working, and it seemed to strike a nerve.
On Wednesday, Trump told the Republican Party’s midterm convention that every US citizen would receive a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterms.
The proposal could cost upward of $1.3 trillion if every US citizen received the payment, though Vice President JD Vance later said wealthy people would be excluded. Joe Lonsdale, the cofounder of Palantir, was among the critics of the pledge and said the payment would be akin to a “bribe.”
When a reporter questioned Trump about the proposal on the airport tarmac in Dallas on Thursday night, the president appeared to snap.
After noting that the US has $40 trillion in debt, the reporter asked: “If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out and vote?”
Trump responded: “I didn’t do it for turning out the vote. I’m doing it as a reward for people having to put up with five years, and four years, of a horrible, horrible situation caused by Biden.”
He repeated the point, calling the promised dividend “almost a reward for the people having to put up with Biden’s policies.”
Q: On the checks, we have $40 trillion in debt. If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out to vote?
TRUMP: I’m doing it as a reward for people having to put up for five years and four years of a horrible situation caused by Biden… pic.twitter.com/Iq4LpS1pNt— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 11, 2026
As the reporter began a follow-up question, Trump said “not you,” while pointing to another journalist.
The reporter continued: “You also offered checks during… tariff refunds checks, and that didn’t happen, Mr. President.”
This was a reference to Trump’s November 2025 pledge to send $2,000 tariff-rebate checks, which have not been paid out. He also floated “DOGE dividends” in early 2025, which would have provided Americans with a one-time check of up to $5,000. They also never materialized.
Trump interrupted with another “not you,” then leaned toward her, glared, and repeated it for a third time. “Your network and you, you’re the worst,” he said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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