$5000 for a baby? Trump mulls childbirth bonus

President Donald Trump has expressed support for a proposal to grant a $5,000 bonus to new mothers in an effort to reverse the country’s falling birth rate.

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Trump said Tuesday in the Oval Office when asked about the reported financial incentive being considered by his administration.

The proposed "baby bonus" was first reported by The New York Times on Monday.

According to the report, White House aides have held meetings with policy experts and pronatalist advocates to discuss possible strategies aimed at encouraging larger families.

Among the options discussed are direct financial support of $5,000 per childbirth, a policy to reserve 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children, and educational programmes to inform women about fertility cycles and ovulation.

While no formal plan has been confirmed by the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “proudly implementing policies to uplift American families.” She added: “The President wants America to be a country where all children can safely grow up and achieve the American dream.”

The US birth rate has been on a steady decline for over a decade, hitting a low in 2023 with just under 3.6 million births — the fewest since 1979.

That figure was 76,000 fewer than in 2022. The average family size also continues to fall, with fewer than two children per family reported last year.

Shifting birth patterns have shown younger women and teenagers having fewer children, while the rate among women in their 30s and 40s has increased.

The administration is reportedly exploring policies aimed at reversing these trends, with support from figures like Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.

No timeline has been provided on when a final decision may be announced.