Donald Trump has received mixed reactions from the American public after he endorsed the idea of a so-called ‘baby bonus’ to address declining birth rates in the country to help the country become more economically prosperous.
In 2024, about 3.6 million babies were born in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As a result of the data, the fertility rate increased less than 1 percent from the record low in 2023, which was 54.6 births per 1,000 women of reproductive age.
Several people are discussing how low birth rates will collapse civilization, including Elon Musk, who has 14 children. But Musk isn’t the only one who has expressed this concern.
The White House has recently welcomed ideas to increase birth rates, like reserving Fulbright scholarships for married or parenting applicants.
An even more controversial idea is a $5,000 cash ‘baby bonus’ given to every American mother after their baby has been born.
Four people who attended the meetings told The Times about the ideas, but Trump supported the baby bonus when questioned by reporters.
When The New York Post asked Trump about the cash incentive, he said: “Sounds good to me.”
Others aren’t so sure, taking to Reddit that $5,000 won’t go very far in raising a kid.
Reddit user sarcastically wrote: “Yes, because $5K will support a kid into adulthood…not linked, but I think the average cost of a child through their lifetime is around $3-400K.”.
Another said: “Five thousand won’t even cover the birth!”
Another person commented, “This is some weird effed up stuff. Not to mention $5,000 doesn’t go very far in today’s world. It’s like two months rent and a couple grocery trips.”
As well, some readers expressed concerns about the idea of offering a cash incentive for childbirth, with one saying: “If $5,000 makes someone want to have a kid, then they shouldn’t have a kid.”
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s statement to The Times, Trump proudly implements policies to uplift American families.
The President’s goal is to make America a place where all children can grow up safely and achieve their dreams in the American dream,” she said. Having been a mother, I am proud to work for a president, taking significant steps to ensure we leave a better country for the next generation.