In a recent interview, President Donald Trump offered a vague answer when asked about the timing of the $5,000 “Trump Dividend” checks he said his administration would send to Americans after the midterms.

The Republican, who outlined the plan last night at the GOP’s midterm convention in Texas, spoke with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham about the check plan after his speech.

In a preview clip of their interview, which will air in full on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Eastern time, Ingraham asked the president why he was promising to send the checks after the midterms if the money was available now.

“Because the Democrats can’t do it. Because with them, it’s negative growth. With us, it’s so positive,” Trump said. “So, we’re taking in $21 trillion. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that. It’s four or five times higher than the next one. All because of that beautiful word you and I love more than most others, tariffs.”

(It is unclear what $21 trillion the president was talking about, but neither his tariffs nor investment commitments to the U.S. have brought in that much money.)

During his speech, the president said the checks would go to all American adults and were contingent on voters helping Republicans keep their majority in Congress, a pitch critics said resembled buying support ahead of the November elections.

“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said during his remarks.

The White House did not provide additional details about the plan when asked for comment by The Independent.

“President Trump has consistently proven his doubters wrong, drawing a clear contrast with the Democrats’ record of historic inflation, unfettered illegal immigration, skyrocketing crime, and weakness on the world stage,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Independent in a statement.

Trump has repeatedly floated payments for Americans that have never arrived, including $2,000 checks tied to tariff income, $5,000 checks from DOGE savings and federal funds for healthcare spending. During the Wednesday night speech, Trump compared the payout to the administration’s $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” checks for American military service members.

“I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election … because Republicans (and America) will win!” Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio wrote on X after the speech.

Trump ally Elon Musk faced allegations of vote-buying during the 2024 election, which he denied.

During the presidential race, Musk, a prominent Trump surrogate and donor, carried out a $1 million-per-day sweepstakes for voters who signed a petition supporting the U.S. Constitution. Critics said the scheme was a thinly veiled attempt to buy a Trump win.

During the pandemic, Democrats campaigned on proposals for a $2,000 stimulus check.