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U.S. President Donald Trump dances after delivering a keynote speech on the first day of the Republican midterm election convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 9 local time. The two-day convention runs through Sept. 10. / UPI-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sept. 9 local time at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm election convention in Dallas, Texas, that every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” if Republicans retain control of both the Senate and House of Representatives in the Nov. 3 elections.

“Think of me as being on the ballot,” Trump said, framing the midterm elections as a referendum on the record of his second term. Despite Trump’s low approval ratings and political pressure stemming from the Iran war and rising living costs, Republicans are placing his ability to mobilize supporters at the center of their election strategy.

During a speech that lasted one hour and 45 minutes, Trump said, “If Republicans win both the House and the Senate, we will pay a $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen.”

He compared the proposal to a successful company distributing cash to its shareholders and said the money would have to be spent within the United States. He did not provide details on how the program would be funded or implemented.

Reuters estimated that simply applying the payment to roughly 270 million U.S. adults would bring the total cost to about $1.35 trillion, or roughly 1,807.9 trillion won. The Associated Press reported that the cost would exceed $1 trillion and that congressional approval would be required.

Trump tied a Republican victory to his ability to implement policies in the latter half of his term, proposing to make existing tax cuts permanent, reduce credit card transaction fees and introduce a health care plan that would redirect government payments currently made to major insurance companies directly to the public.

He also said he would push for the No Invasions Act to curb illegal immigration and the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship when voting.

                                                                                                                Ha Man-ju