CNBC Daily Open: The Trump 'Dividend': $5,000 for control of Congress
The promise of a payment, and a claim oil will "come tumbling down" are the key takeaways from President Trump's speech at the Republican's convention.
Fransebas
DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 09: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 09, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump will headline the Republican National Committee's first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration’s achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Hello, this is Leonie Kidd coming to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.
Cash payments can be an eye-catching political promise, but the Trump administration's record of delivering them has been mixed.
During Covid times, $1,200 stimulus checks were distributed to certain individuals across America. But last year's promise of a $2000 "tariff dividend" for those most harshly impacted by President Donald Trump's trade policies never materialized.
The strategy is back in the headlines with a fresh promise for all American voters if the midterms deliver what Trump wants — control of Congress.
Read on for more.
What you need to know today
President Donald Trump has vowed to pay every adult American a $5,000 "dividend" if Republicans win the midterm elections and retain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
With around 260 million adult Americans per the 2020 Census, it would cost roughly $1.3 trillion to honor that commitment.
These payment promises are not new to the Trump administration, but have varied in execution. A 2020 stimulus payment during Covid times delivered Trump-signed checks of $1,200 to certain individuals. But another promise of a $2,000 "tariff dividend" was never enacted.
After the midterms...
President Trump was speaking at the Republican Party's midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.
Just before the event, he told reporters: "Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward." He also added that the war with Iran, which is now in its seventh month, will end "immediately after the election."
Market pressure points
It was another day in the red for Wall Street on Wednesday, with the Dow down 400 points, adding to three days of declines. That streak could be snapped in Thursday's trade, with futures called higher ahead of wholesale inflation data and another set of jobless numbers.
Higher Treasury yields kept the U.S. stock market under pressure after the Treasury Department said it would buy back up to $6 billion in longer-term debt – triple the usual amount.
In Europe, all eyes will be on the ECB today, with President Christine Lagarde "all but certain" to oversee a rate hike of at least 25 basis points.
Complacency caution
Bend it like Apple
Apple's foldable iPhone duo has stolen the show at the tech giant's "Surprise and Shine" event in Cupertino, California.
New CEO John Ternus made his debut unveiling a slate of new products, including the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and the much-anticipated Duo — the company's first foldable phone.
Starting at $1,999, the hefty price tag has raised some eyebrows, with the stock trading lower in afternoon trade but gaining some ground after hours.
— Leonie Kidd
