President Trump floats $2,000 dividends funded by tariffs and 50-year mortgages to address cost-of-living fears ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is proposing a series of economic measures including $2,000 dividends for Americans and 50-year mortgages as cost-of-living concerns grow.
The policy ideas come after Democratic victories in recent off-year elections, where voter anger over rising prices was a significant factor.
Trump has bristled at suggestions he faces economic challenges, instead blaming inflation on his predecessor Joe Biden.
A White House official told AFP that Trump plans to increase his domestic travel to promote his economic message ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
One of Trump’s most notable proposals involves $2,000 dividends for each American funded by his global tariff policies.
Trump claimed tariffs are bringing in “trillions of dollars,” though Treasury Department data shows customs revenues increased by $179 billion from January to September this year.
The proposal faces legal uncertainty as the US Supreme Court examines the legality of Trump’s tariff measures.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the administration remains “committed” to the dividends but offered “no timeline” for implementation.
Trump’s mortgage proposal would allow homeowners to opt for 50-year terms instead of the standard 30-year maximum.
“It’s not even a big deal,” Trump told Fox News. “All it means is you pay less per month, you pay it over a longer period of time.”
The concept has drawn criticism from within Trump’s MAGA movement because it would result in homeowners paying more interest to banks over time.
US media reports indicate White House staff were angered by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte for suggesting 50-year mortgages without broader consultation.
Trump has also proposed redirecting Obamacare insurance subsidies directly to Americans instead of insurance companies.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said this would allow Americans to choose their own healthcare rather than funding “money sucking insurance companies.”
The president has provided few details about how this healthcare proposal would function in practice. – AFP
