Trump’s proposed $5,000 election dividend checks could fuel inflation, economists say

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 09, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Alex Wong | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump's promise of a $5,000 election "dividend" check to every adult in the U.S. comes at a time when many Americans are feeling particularly strained. However, economists CNBC spoke with say the proposal is unlikely to become a reality. And even if it did, a one-time direct payment would do little to ease affordability pressures, they said, and could raise consumer prices more in the months ahead.Just weeks before the November midterm elections — with consumers' views of their financial situation largely pessimistic — Trump on Wednesday said his administration would give every adult American citizen $5,000 if the Republicans win control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. High prices have weighed on voters and are largely to blame for a long-term decline in consumer sentiment, according to a data analysis from PNC Financial Services. Read more CNBC personal finance coverageIn August, consumers' short-term outlook slipped further into negative territory, a...