President Donald Trump is again promising $5,000 payments to every adult in the United States if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections — a proposal that has drawn skepticism from lawmakers, economists and at least one former Republican rival. Trump reiterated the pledge Friday in a Truth Social post, writing, “When I say something, I mean it!” He said the payment would happen because Americans “deserve it,” but he has not provided a detailed legislative or budget plan for distributing the money. The proposal, which Trump introduced during a Republican midterm convention speech in Dallas, would require congressional approval. With more than 240 million adult citizens in the country, the payments could total about $1.2 trillion before administrative costs. That price tag has prompted concerns about adding to the federal deficit and worsening inflation. Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican who is leaving Congress, said Friday that the country already carries more than $40 trillion in debt and cannot afford another major spending package without a clear way to pay for it. Norman also criticized linking the payments to the election outcome, saying the arrangement could resemble “pay-to-play politics.” He argued that Republicans should seek voters’ support through policy rather than promises of checks from Washington. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who once competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, dismissed the idea Thursday as “more debt and more inflation.” Other Republicans have expressed concern about the proposal’s cost even as Trump urges the party to use it to motivate voters. Administration officials have offered differing suggestions about the financing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the payments could come from somewhere other than taxpayer money, without explaining a specific funding source. Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, suggested Congress could approve the payments through the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority. Neither explanation resolves the central budget question. Any money distributed by the federal government would need to come from new revenue, reduced spending, borrowing or some combination of those approaches. A payment program of this size would be substantially larger than the pandemic-era stimulus checks that were approved during the coronavirus crisis. Trump has previously backed proposals for federal rebate checks that never became reality. In 2025, he supported a plan associated with Elon Musk that would have sent Americans money from savings attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump also floated the idea of checks financed by tariff revenue. Neither proposal materialized. The latest pledge comes as Republicans prepare for a difficult midterm environment and seek to maintain their congressional majorities. Trump spent two days at the party convention urging supporters to vote and asking them to bring family and friends to the polls. Whether the $5,000 promise advances beyond campaign rhetoric will depend on the willingness of Republican lawmakers to approve a plan and identify the money to pay for it. For households already facing high prices, the debate is likely to center on whether a one-time payment would provide meaningful relief or be offset by higher inflation, taxes or government borrowing.