WASHINGTON — In an exclusive interview with The Floridian, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) shared her thoughts on President Donald Trump’s promise to issue $5,000 dividend checks to Americans and the rhetoric against it.
“It’s wild seeing members try to figure out reasons why it shouldn’t happen, when a majority of Democrats tried to advocate and push for Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness,” Rep. Luna said, calling out the partisan contradiction.
Rep. Luna Suggests Reallocating Foreign Aid
Congresswoman Luna said she believes that President Trump’s promise can be fulfilled without increasing the deficit, advocating for reappropriating the budget.
“We send a ton of foreign aid overseas; why don’t we just reallocate that money that would be spent anyway and look at it as a tax return for the American people?” Rep. Luna questioned.
Congresswoman Luna Points To Tariffs To Help With The Checks
“Also, President Trump has talked about how his reciprocal tariffs have already netted pots of money,” she added.
Congresswoman Luna cited the tariffs’ advantages, pointing out the federal government shutdown in Oct. 2025.
During that shutdown, the Trump administration helped fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program with the tariff revenue.
“So there’s a surplus. He can reallocate it. He discussed it lightly in media responses recently, and so I think that we can get it done,” Rep. Luna said. “I look at it like a tax return that’s overdue.”
Critics of Trump's Checks Are "Dense" and "Backwards"
Following President Trump’s announcement, several critics called out the president’s promise, labeling it a socialist tactic to counter socialism.
Congresswoman Luna pushed back, calling the critiques dense and backwards.
“We have so much frivolous spending up in Washington. You can look at the amount of foreign aid programs that we’re funding – and I look at this all the time being on [the] Foreign Affairs [Committee] – I look at this like a tax return,” Rep. Luna fired back. “So people that say that it’s socialism, I think that it’s ridiculous.”
