{
  "id": 6606205,
  "title": "Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ is really a $1.15 trillion hole in the deficit, top economist estimates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/trumps-5-000-dividend-is-really-a-1-15-trillion-hole-in-the-deficit",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-10T15:39:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/09/10/trump-5000-dividend-national-debt-kent-smetters/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump's promise to provide a $5,000 check to every American adult could result in a fiscal burden of approximately $1.15 trillion, according to top economist Kent Smetters. The cost estimate assumes the checks would be given to all American adults, without excluding the wealthy. Smetters' projections also consider the potential inflationary impact, estimating an increase of around 0.3 to 0.5 percentage points in headline and core inflation over the subsequent four quarters. The proposed dividend would be financed through borrowing, given the lack of a clear funding source. The proposal comes amid a growing national debt and already substantial deficit, making the addition of a one-time payout particularly concerning.",
  "summary": "Penn Wharton's Kent Smetters says the payout, floated at the GOP's midterm convention, could add up to $1.35 trillion to the $40 trillion national debt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "As the U.S. Treasury shells out $95 billion a month in interest to cover deficits, Trump pitches a $1.3 trillion payout to voters if Republicans win the midterms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/as-the-u-s-treasury-shells-out-95-billion-a-month-in-interest-to",
        "published": "2026-09-10T10:39:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "The Trump dividend: What $5,000 would cost and what it could cover",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/the-trump-dividend-what-5-000-would-cost-and-what-it-could-cover",
        "published": "2026-09-10T10:53:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’: What does he mean and who would get it?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/trumps-5-000-dividend-what-does-he-mean-and-who-would-get-it",
        "published": "2026-09-10T12:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "Who will receive Trump's $5,000 dividend?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/who-will-receive-trumps-5-000-dividend",
        "published": "2026-09-10T13:15:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Trump’s promise of $5,000 ‘dividend’ for US citizens after midterms decried as ‘bribery’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/trumps-promise-of-5-000-dividend-for-us-citizens-after-midterms",
        "published": "2026-09-10T15:01:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "5 things to know about Trump's $5K dividend pledge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/5-things-to-know-about-trumps-5k-dividend-pledge",
        "published": "2026-09-10T16:25:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "What to know about Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ pledge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/what-to-know-about-trumps-5-000-dividend-pledge",
        "published": "2026-09-10T18:12:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "‘Is Trump bribing voters?’: $500 Medicare rebate after $5000 dividend check offer puts GOP midterm strategy in focus",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/is-trump-bribing-voters-500-medicare-rebate-after-5000-dividend-check",
        "published": "2026-09-10T18:59:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Palantir cofounder and GOP donor says Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend is a 'bribe'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/palantir-cofounder-and-gop-donor-says-trumps-proposed-5-000-dividend",
        "published": "2026-09-10T19:55:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}