Trump claims $5,000 bonus covers only a burger and dessert at Mar-a-Lago
The president joked the promised payout would buy little more than a burger at his Florida resort one week before voters head to the polls.
By Marco Whitaker ·
President Donald Trump claimed that the $5,000 payment he has promised to American adults would buy only a hamburger and a small dessert at his Mar-a-Lago club.
He made the remark at a rally in Texas on Tuesday, less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections. The timing places his comments squarely in the middle of a campaign where voters have identified the cost of living as their top concern.
The president has stated that the one-time payment would go to every adult citizen if Republicans secure control of both the House and the Senate. He specified that recipients must spend the money within the United States.
"Go to Florida, go to any one of our great places. You can even come to Mar-a-Lago," Trump told the crowd. "The problem is that for $5,000, the most you'll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert." He added that he was not sure even that was possible, joking that Mar-a-Lago is not a good place for someone who is price-conscious.
Public opinion data suggests the affordability issue carries heavy weight for voters. An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier this month found that 84% of U.S. adults named the cost of living among the most important issues in their voting decision. In the same survey, 79% expressed disapproval of how Trump handles the matter. Current polling indicates Democrats hold a lead in the national popular vote for House races and remain competitive in key Senate contests.
Economists have raised concerns that a direct payment of this size would do little to relieve financial strain on households. They warn the cash injection could worsen inflation, particularly for prices of necessities like gasoline and groceries. Funding the program would require Congressional approval and cost approximately $1.2 trillion.
The promise follows a pattern of similar pledges that did not materialize. In 2020, Trump promised $200 prescription-drug cards to 33 million Medicare beneficiaries shortly before the election, but the cards were never distributed. His White House renovation has also drawn criticism, with former President Barack Obama describing the gold-decorated interior as resembling a Cheesecake Factory. Trump defended the redesign on Monday, blaming Obama for ignoring necessary repairs and broken ornaments on the building.
