stimulus check for $5,000
The stimulus check for $5,000: False

The Claim

Social media posts have been circulating with claims that former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to provide American taxpayers who have filed their 2024 tax returns with a $5,000 stimulus check. The claim suggests that this initiative is tied to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its purported savings from government budget cuts.

One viral Facebook post from February 23, 2025, stated, “Well it’s official, Trump to sign order from Elon Musk, giving taxpayers who have filed their 2024 tax returns, a stimulus check for $5,000; not $1,200.” Similarly, an X (formerly Twitter) user posted, “It’s official! $5,000 DOGE Stimulus Checks confirmed by Trump!” along with a doctored image of a U.S. Treasury check featuring Trump and Musk.

Will $5,000 DOGE Stimulus Checks Become a Reality? Everything Americans Need to Know Will $5,000 DOGE Stimulus Checks Become a Reality? Everything Americans Need to Know

The Facts

While Trump has mentioned the concept of giving Americans a share of DOGE's savings in speeches, no official executive order has been signed to provide $5,000 stimulus checks. PolitiFact investigated this claim and found no White House announcements, executive orders, or credible news reports supporting this information.

When reached for comment, the White House did not respond before the publication of PolitiFact's findings. Furthermore, for any stimulus check proposal to move forward, it would require congressional approval, as was the case with previous COVID-19 stimulus payments.

The Origin of the $5,000 Check Idea

The idea of a $5,000 stimulus check appears to stem from a proposal by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria Partners, who suggested on X that 20% of DOGE’s savings should be returned to taxpayers. Fishback wrote on February 14, “American taxpayers deserve a ‘DOGE Dividend’: 20% of the money that DOGE saves should be sent back to hard-working Americans as a tax refund check.” According to his calculations, this could amount to $5,000 per household if DOGE achieves $2 trillion in savings.

However, as of February 24, DOGE’s official website reported only $55 billion in estimated savings. A deeper look into the "wall of receipts" on DOGE’s site reveals discrepancies, with verifiable savings adding up to just $8.6 billion, far below the $2 trillion goal.

Trump's Statements on the Proposal

On February 19, Trump commented on the proposal during the Future Investment Initiative Institute’s Priority Summit in Miami, saying he was considering “a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt.” However, this was merely an expression of interest, not an official policy or signed executive order.

When asked about the proposal later, Trump added, “I love it. A 20% dividend, so to speak, for the money that we’re saving by going after the waste and fraud and abuse and all the other things that are happening. I think it’s a great idea.” Despite his enthusiasm, no concrete action has been taken to implement this idea.

Conclusion

There is no evidence to support the claim that Trump signed an executive order authorizing $5,000 stimulus checks for Americans. The viral posts misrepresent speculative discussions and proposals as official policy. As of now, any such plan remains purely hypothetical and would require further legislative action and approval to become a reality.

Verdict: The claim is False. Always verify information from credible sources before sharing on social media.

Sources to Check:

  • Facebook post, Feb. 23, 2025

  • X post, Feb. 20, 2025

  • James Fishback, X post, Feb. 14, 2025

  • James Fishback, X post, Feb. 18, 2025

  • Elon Musk, X post, Feb. 18, 2025

  • Department of Government Efficiency website, accessed Feb. 25, 2025

  • PolitiFact, "DOGE touts billions in canceled government contracts. Where are the numbers coming from?," Feb. 21, 2025

  • The White House, "Press Gaggle by President Trump at Future Investment Initiative Institute Priority Summit," Feb. 19, 2025

  • YouTube, "The Associated Press - Trump backs idea to send some DOGE savings to US citizens," Feb. 19, 2025

  • NBC News, "Elon Musk says DOGE probably won't find $2 trillion in federal budget cuts," Jan. 9, 2025

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