Johnson: Trump's $5k Dividend Needs Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated Sunday that President Donald Trump's proposal to send $5,000 to every American adult would require congressional approval.

Trump unveiled the proposal, dubbed the "Trump Dividend," last week at the Republican Party's midterm convention in Dallas. He later told CBS News Texas that he did not believe Congress needed to authorize the payments.

Johnson, however, indicated that congressional action would be necessary. "I would assume, yes, he'd need Congress to act, and that’s a creative idea," Johnson said when asked about the need for approval. He added that he would work to advance the president's proposal through Congress.

"He’s the big ideas president. We’re going to try to implement everything we can," Johnson stated. "I commit that Congress will work through it and find consensus on that like they have to do everything else."

Trump spoke with reporters Sunday, reiterating his belief that the payments would be manageable if Republicans win. "Five thousand dollars to all adults in the country and we can easily handle that because we're taking in so much money," Trump said, suggesting trillions of dollars were flowing into the country.

Economists have raised concerns about the potential financial impact. The estimated cost for such a measure could exceed $1 trillion, potentially exacerbating the federal deficit and worsening inflation. Consumer sentiment remains cautious amid rising gasoline prices and wages struggling to keep pace with inflation.