Karnataka CM DK Shivkumar says 'Donald Trump is copying us' as US president announces $5000 to every adult if Republicans win mid-terms

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday claimed that US President Donald Trump was “copying” the Congress government’s guarantee schemes, referring to Trump’s proposal to give $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November midterm elections, as per a TOI report.

Speaking in Bengaluru, Shivakumar described the Congress government’s welfare guarantees as a “blockbuster” and drew a comparison between the schemes and Trump’s proposed “dividend” for American adults.

What is Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ proposal?

Trump has renewed his proposal to provide a $5,000 payment to every adult American if Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress after the November midterm elections.


Trump said the US government could afford the proposed payments because it was collecting large amounts of revenue. While speaking to reporters in Ireland on Sunday, he said the payments would be “easy” to manage if Republicans win the election.

“I don't know but it's easy if the Republicans win. $5,000 to all adults in the country and we can easily handle that because we're taking in so much money,” Trump said, according to reports.

The president first unveiled the proposal at a Republican Party midterm convention in Dallas, linking the proposed payments to what he described as trillions of dollars flowing into the United States.

Trump’s proposal needs congressional approval

Trump’s proposed payments would require approval from Congress, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as reported by AP.

Johnson said Sunday that Trump would need Congress to act on the proposal and pledged to work towards implementing it despite the Republicans’ narrow majority.

“I would assume, yes, he'd need Congress to act, and that's a creative idea,” Johnson said.

“He’s the big idea’s president. We’re going to try to implement everything we can,” Johnson added, saying Congress would work through the proposal and seek consensus.

$5,000 payments could cost more than $1 trillion

The proposed payments could cost more than $1 trillion and add pressure to the United States’ annual budget deficit, which is nearly $1.8 trillion, as reported by AP. The proposal has also raised concerns about inflation as the US economy continues to face persistent price pressures and elevated interest rates.

Trump has argued that the payments would be possible because of the strength of the US economy and the revenue being collected by the government.

While in Ireland, where he was attending a golf tournament at a course he owns, Trump again defended the proposal.

“We can easily handle that because we're taking in so much money,” he said.

“I made the pledge. I always keep my pledge,” Trump added.

Trump faces economic and political pressure

Trump’s proposal comes as consumer sentiment remains weak, while gasoline prices have risen amid the war with Iran and wages have struggled to keep pace with inflation.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in July found that one-third of US adults approved of Trump’s handling of the presidency. The figure was down from 37% in June and 42% when he took office.

Majorities in the poll also disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy and immigration, two issues that were central to his 2024 election campaign.

Trump said Sunday that gas prices would “drop like a rock”, but indicated that there was no immediate deal with Iran to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.