Economic News

Trump administration floats plan to distribute $10,000 checks but US citizens won’t see any

The White House is reportedly considering a program to send $10,000 checks to households, just known in the US.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Nathan Howard
Maite Knorr-Evans
Maite joined the AS USA in 2021, bringing her experience as a research analyst investigating illegal logging to the team. Maite’s interest in politics propelled her to pursue a degree in international relations and a master's in political philosophy. At AS USA, Maite combines her knowledge of political economy and personal finance to empower readers by providing answers to their most pressing questions.
Update:

In an attempt to win favor from Greenlanders, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a proposal to send $10,000 annual payments to every household on the Arctic island, as reported by The New York Times.

President Trump and his administration have made clear their intentions to bring Greenland under US control, news which has not been received well across the Atlantic. Though some of Denmark’s leaders have recently rebuked the president, arguing that “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders,” the territory belongs to the European country. Independence from Denmark is the favored view of all major political parties in Greenland, as it currently only holds limited self-governing powers.

Earlier this month, Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance, announced that she would be taking a trip to Greenland—initally planning to attend a dog sledding race. Shortly after, Vice President JD Vance said he would join his wife—news that was not taken well in Greenland and beyond.

Officials in Greenland and Denmark saw the move as provocative, and the Office of the Vice President quickly made changes to the trip’s schedule. The ‘second couple’ were not made to feel welcome as the trip was organized, with the administration sending teams “door to door” in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, to find a potential host for a short visit with the vice president and his wife; no one was interested. Greenland’s population reached just over 56,000 in 2023, with Nuuk being called home to around 20,000.

Ultimately, the Vances shortened their trip, only visiting a US Space Force base in Pituffik before promptly returning to Washington.

$10,000 checks won’t be sent to US bank accounts

Perhaps the cold reception has shown the White House that its approach has not been received well locally. If reporting from the New York Times of annual payments is truly under consideration, it would demonstrate a significant change in strategy. The NYT obtained information on a proposal circulating among the administration’s leading officials of a plan to distribute $10,000 annual payments to residents of Greenland. The amount, though lower, is close to the $600 million sent each year by Demark.

Favorability at what cost

At a time when many households are hurting economically and consumer confidence in the economy hits record lows, $10,000 payments sent to families abroad might not play well with the public. In March, Fox News reported on a poll that found that the acquisition of Greenland was one of the Trump administration’s most unpopular policies, with over 70 percent of voters surveyed opposing it. The White House might be able to gain favor through the payments policy at the expense of households and voters in the US.

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