Senate Pushes for Trump‑Backed $5,000 Dividend Funded by Tariffs

Senator Bernie Moreno (R‑Ohio) is preparing legislation to give every American a one‑time $5,000 check, a proposal first floated by President Donald Trump at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas. Moreno says the money would come from new tariffs on foreign goods that act as a “market access fee,” with the revenue earmarked to return to U.S. consumers. The checks would be spendable only within the United States. The plan would require Republican control of both chambers and is likely to be pursued through the budget‑reconciliation process to bypass Democratic opposition. Democrats have condemned the proposal as a political bribe, while Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Freedom Caucus chair Andy Harris, have expressed support. The legislation would also involve a potential $1.2 trillion cost, according to Moreno, and would shift trade policy toward a tariff‑based revenue model. The proposal’s fate hinges on the post‑midterm balance of power in Congress.