President Donald Trump’s promise to send Americans a $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans retain control of Congress after the 2026 elections is forcing the GOP to confront a divide that has been building for years: how far the party is willing to depart from traditional fiscal conservatism in pursuit of Trump’s populist economic agenda.
The proposal, which could cost roughly $1.2 trillion, has drawn immediate resistance from fiscal hawks alarmed by the prospect of another massive round of direct federal payments. Other Republicans, however, are embracing the idea as economic relief for voters and potentially a powerful incentive for Trump supporters to turn out in November.
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