Trump’s $5,000 dividend would not be funded by taxpayers, adviser says

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick asserted in NBC News that President Trump’s promised $5,000 checks for every American adult would not be paid with tax dollars, though White House aides have floated funding avenues such as tariff revenues or a reconciliation process. The debate over funding a massive payout comes as the federal debt surpasses $40 trillion and deficits run near $1.8 trillion, with economists skeptical about the plan’s practicality. The story also touches on related concerns like the CHIPS Act investments and energy/policy factors that shape inflation and pricing.