A reporter asked President Donald Trump why he needed to give people $5,000 if his economic policies were working, and it seemed to make him really upset.
On Wednesday, Trump told the Republican Party’s midterm convention that every American would get a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans win both houses of Congress in November’s midterms.
The plan could cost up to $1.3 trillion if everyone got the money, but later, Vice President JD Vance said only wealthy people would get it.
Joe Lonsdale, who co-founded Palantir, criticized the idea, calling it like a “bribe.”
When a reporter asked Trump about the idea on the airport tarmac in Dallas on Thursday night, he got very angry.
He mentioned that the US has $40 trillion in debt and was asked, “If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to vote?”
Trump replied, “I didn’t do it to get people to vote.
It’s a reward for people who had to deal with five years and four years of a terrible situation caused by Biden.”
He repeated the idea, saying the check was “almost a reward for people having to put up with Biden’s policies.”
The reporter then asked, “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?”
As the reporter started another question, Trump said “not you” while pointing at another journalist.
The reporter continued: “You also offered checks during tariff refunds checks, and that didn’t happen, Mr.
President.”
This referred to Trump’s November 2025 promise to send $2,000 tariff-rebate checks, which never came.
He also talked about “DOGE dividends” in early 2025, which would have given people up to $5,000, but they never happened either.
Trump interrupted with another “not you,” then leaned close, glared, and said it a third time.
“Your network and you, you’re the worst,” he said.
Olivia Wales, an assistant White House press secretary at The White House, told Business Insider: “President Trump is the most accessible President in American history.
But when liberal reporters, male or female, ask biased questions, he calls them out and delivers his message without apology.”
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?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 11, 2026
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
About the Author
Don’t believe Donald Trump lies the USA is in its shape because of Donald J. Trump NOT Joe Biden. Trump has been in office 21 Months, the USA is under Trump law and has been since Jan 2025, Joe Biden never had a war, no Tariff under Joe Biden. and no Inflation under Joe Biden, all of this happen under dumbass Donald Trump, who is a very Weak, little finger, piece of shit, who only has shit for brains. Go Donnie I’m sure Natalie needs to change Your dirty Diaper.