Follow-Up: At Fort Myers Rally, Trump Proposes $5,000 'Trump Dividend' If Republicans Win House and Senate
President Donald Trump held a midterm campaign rally on the afternoon of October 23 at Alico Arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, stumping for Florida Republican candidates, above all U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. The arena, which holds 4,633 people, was filled to capacity. Trump landed aboard Air Force One at Southwest Florida International Airport at 1:34 p.m. and was greeted on the tarmac by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. After teleprompter trouble interrupted his remarks twice, his political speech had run more than one hour and 15 minutes by 4:15 p.m. and was still under way as this report was filed.
The most closely watched moment was his renewed pitch for a $5,000 "Trump dividend," an idea he first proposed in September and has repeated at multiple rallies since. "If Republicans win the House of Representatives and the Senate, I am going to give all adult citizens in the United States in America, $5,000," Trump told the crowd. He said the money would come from international tariff revenue and economic growth, with one condition: the funds must be spent inside the United States. He compared the plan to a previous $1,776 payout issued to military personnel during his administration.
Backing Donalds was the rally's main theme. "For 11 days from now, the people of Florida are going to elect Byron Donalds," Trump said, recalling an award Donalds had presented to him years earlier, and he brought Donalds back on stage. Trump first endorsed Donalds for governor in January 2025. Of Donalds' Democratic opponent, David Jolly, Trump said: "David Jolly is a vicious anti-gun radical who wants to take away your firearms. He has an F rating from the NRA," adding, "Byron Donalds will always defend your right to keep and bear arms." He also attacked Florida state legislative candidate Angie Nixon.
On foreign policy, Trump cited Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury against Iran and said: "We may do another little Epic Fury. If they're smart, they'll say, 'Let's get down to business.' But you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart." On Venezuela, he said the United States had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and brought him to justice, and was now working with Venezuela to produce oil. On Cuba, he said U.S. ships returning from Iran would pass Cuba and mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
On the economy, Trump said: "More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of the United States." He pointed to stock market gains, 401(k) growth and manufacturing investment stemming from his tariff policies as reasons to elect Republicans. He also spent part of the speech describing White House renovation work he has overseen, including replacing broken stone, repairing century-old doors and restoring fountains, calling it "almost like a release."
During the warm-up program, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s speech was interrupted when an older man collapsed in the stands; Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, rushed into the bleachers to help, and Kennedy asked the crowd to pray for the man. Kennedy later joined Trump on stage to announce that all U.S.-caught seafood will carry an "American made" label. Trump also attacked Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar in his remarks and called for her resignation.
The rally was one stop on Trump's aggressive barnstorm ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. In the Florida governor's race, polling averages show Donalds leading Jolly by about 49.2% to 44.2%. GSM previewed this rally earlier today; this report was first filed while the speech was under way. Near the end, Trump brought Donalds and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida on stage. "We're going to win in 11 days," Donalds said, promising to lower insurance costs and taxes and to make state government accountable to voters. Turning to the Senate, he said: "Right now it's 51-49. If we pick up two seats, get rid of the filibuster. Get everything passed, all of the president's bills, not requiring one Democrat vote." Moody recounted her tenure as Florida attorney general, focusing on immigration, drug trafficking and public safety enforcement, and urged voters to return Republicans to the Senate and the House. Trump said Donalds "will be one of your greatest governors in history," and closed by saying: "Election night, Florida is going to prove that America does not belong to those who hate it. America belongs to those who love it." The remarks ended at about 4:20 p.m. ET, after more than 90 minutes. Trump traveled on to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach that evening, with another rally scheduled Saturday. GSM will supplement this report once the official transcript is released.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：特朗普在公开活动上向人群致意（资料图，白宫官方照片，Daniel Torok 摄）。Photo: President Trump gestures to a crowd at a public event (file photo). Official White House photo by Daniel Torok.
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