Trump’s $5,000 dividend requires congressional approval, Mike Johnson says

Published September 13, 2026 12:22pm ET | Updated September 13, 2026 12:22pm ET



House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) argued that President Donald Trump’s controversial $5,000 dividend proposal requires congressional approval, though he shied away from overt criticism of the measure.

Trump’s promise to divvy out $5,000 to every U.S. citizen at the Republicans’ midterm convention last week sent shockwaves around the country and within the Republican Party. Johnson described the proposal as a “new creative idea” and noted that the party had “zero time” to process, deliberate, or discuss the idea. When asked, he said Trump would need congressional approval for the move.

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