Trump reveals why $5,000 checks can wait until after the midterms

President Trump defended waiting until after the midterms to send Americans $5,000 "dividend" checks, telling Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle" on Thursday that Democrats "can't do it" now.

The big picture: Trump is teasing the checks as Americans remain frustrated by inflation, expensive groceries and high gas prices ahead of the midterms.

Catch up quick: Trump promised at the GOP midterm convention Wednesday night that Americans will get a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate.

"I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," he told the gathering in Dallas.

What he's saying: When asked by Fox News' Laura Ingraham why he promised the checks for after the midterms, Trump said Democrats wouldn't support the measure now.

"I'll tell you what, because the Democrats can't do it," he said. "Because with them it's negative growth with — with us it's so positive."

Reality check: Republicans already control the House and Senate, though Democrats can still block many bills in the Senate.

Zoom in: Trump told Ingraham tariff revenue will make the checks possible.

"We're taking in $21 trillion," Trump said of tariffs. (Net tariff revenue this fiscal year, per the Treasury, is about $154 billion.)

Yes, but: The math also reveals a high cost: Giving $5,000 to every adult citizen could cost roughly $1.3 trillion.

Zoom out: Trump has made these types of promises before, though no checks were ever issued.

In July and October of last year, he suggested sending Americans tariff rebate checks of up to $2,000.

Trump also backed an idea floated by Elon Musk in February 2025 to send Americans $5,000 dividend checks from DOGE savings.

Go deeper: The macroeconomics of $5K checks

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional comments.