Trump promises $5,000 to every American if Republicans keep power, sparks India comparisons

Days before the midterm elections in the United States in November, President Donald Trump has made a big pitch. He has announced that if the Republican Party retains its dominance in Congress, every adult American citizen will receive 5,000 dollars, over four and a half lakh rupees, deposited into their account under the name "Trump Dividend." The announcement caused a stir in the United States, and Indian social media users reacted to it in an amusing way, giving the whole matter a different turn.

People have begun comparing the US president's announcement to Maharashtra's "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana" and Madhya Pradesh's "Ladli Behna Yojana." Hashtags and memes such as "Ladla American Yojana," "Ladla Adult Yojana" and "Global Ladli Behna" have flooded social media. On one hand, this announcement of depositing money directly into bank accounts ahead of elections is being discussed in a developed country like the United States, and on the other, it has also brought attention to how India's political culture and "revdi politics" are now being talked about worldwide.

Trump played this election card at the Republican Party's first midterm convention held in Dallas, Texas. In a speech lasting over an hour and a half, he said clearly that if the Republican Party retains control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November midterm elections, every adult citizen of the country will be given a "Trump Dividend" of 5,000 dollars. The scheme could benefit around 270 million adult American citizens, and the entire proposal is estimated to cost around 1.35 trillion dollars, about 3 percent of the country's total GDP. There is no clear information yet on how the scheme will actually be implemented, and economists are raising questions about how legally and financially feasible it is to distribute such a large sum at once.

The Republican Party is currently facing a major challenge. Rising inflation, increased spending and the prolonged confrontation with Iran have angered the public in recent months. Surveys show Trump's approval rating has fallen to a historic low, while Democratic voters appear more enthusiastic about the election. The Republican Party fears losing control of Congress, which is believed to be the reason behind Trump's move.

Posts under names such as "Global Ladli Behna Yojana" and "Ladla American Bhai Yojana" are going viral on X, Instagram and Facebook. A user named Mohammed Mobin wrote on X, "scheme so goated, Ladli bhen Yojna reached international." Another user, Sandeep Manudhane, wrote, "Laadla Ameriki scheme launched." Another user, VT, wrote, "Trump following Modi with ladla Amreecan yojna."

At the Dallas convention, Trump told supporters, "Consider that I am the one on the ballot." However, not everything went smoothly at the convention. Several senior Republican leaders, including Tom Barrett of Michigan, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, stayed away from the event over fears that association with Trump could hurt local elections. This has also brought differences within the party out into the open.

In India, when a political party promises free electricity, water or monthly financial help for women, it is often criticised as "revdi culture." Meanwhile, a country like the United States now appears to be pursuing the politics of direct cash handouts, and it is only natural for Indian users to turn it into memes.