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The federal government has no imminent plans for another stimulus check. (AP) The federal government has no imminent plans for another stimulus check. (AP)

The federal government has no imminent plans for another stimulus check. (AP)

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu December 10, 2024

No, a new $1,000 stimulus check hasn’t been approved as Donald Trump takes office

If Your Time is short

  • In 2020, Congress approved two stimulus check payments as the COVID-19 pandemic caused job losses and higher prices.
     

  • The current Congress has not approved a $1,000 stimulus card.

A popular video claims the government has approved a new $1,000 stimulus card ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office in January. But the only thing this video stimulates is déjà vu.

The video, posted Dec. 3 on Facebook, showed Trump speaking at a campaign rally, promising to deregulate agencies on his first day in office.

"In a shocking, unprecedented move," the video’s narrator then says, "a no-strings-attached $1000 stimulus has been rushed through prior to the incoming term in an effort to kick-start the economy immediately. Every U.S. resident qualifies no exceptions. The plan is to have the money in applicants’ accounts within 24 hours or less."

The narrator then directs viewers to click on a web link rather than make any phone calls or send any texts.

The Facebook video was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Threads and Instagram.)

Sign up for PolitiFact texts

This offer isn’t real. Congress has approved no bills authorizing the disbursement of a new $1,000 stimulus card to all Americans. Lawmakers did approve stimulus payments, but that was in 2020 and 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic to give Americans a financial buffer against lost job and higher goods and services prices.

Two such stimulus payments came during Trump’s first term. But the two legislative chambers have not approved such relief in 2024.

The Trump clip was from an Oct. 31 rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"I will sign an executive order directing every federal agency to immediately remove every single burdensome regulation driving up the cost of goods," Trump said. But a transcript of the speech showed Trump did not promise to give all U.S. residents a $1,000 stimulus card.

The website linked to the video is also not an official federal government site. Legitimate government websites use ".gov" or ".mil" domains in their addresses.

PolitiFact has checked several similar claims about nonexistent government programs that promise to help pay for groceries and other expenses.

The U.S. government warns the public about online scams, saying, "The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs." People can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission. 

We rate the claim that a $1,000 stimulus card has been approved ahead of Trump’s term False.

Our Sources

Facebook video (archived link), Dec. 3, 2024

PolitiFact, No free cash: House of Representatives hasn’t OK’d a new $1,000 card stimulus program, Jun. 25, 2024

PolitiFact, Congress has not passed a $6,400 subsidy for low-income Americans, Jan. 19, 2024

PolitiFact, Promises of $16,800 payments from the U.S. government are a scam, Dec. 18, 2023

PolitiFact, Medicare ‘flex cards’ are not as advertised, Jan. 12, 2022

PolitiFact, Adults older than 51 won’t get free money to help stave off inflation, Jul. 14, 2022

USA.gov, "Avoid "free money" from the government scams," accessed Dec. 9, 2024

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Economic Impact Payments, accessed Dec. 9, 2024

Federal Trade Commission, "Government Grant Scams | Consumer Advice,"accessed Dec. 9, 2024

Congress.gov, Bills passed in the House and Senate 2023-2024, accessed Dec. 10, 2024

Department of Health & Human Services, An Official United States Government Website, accessed Dec. 10, 2024

YouTube, LIVE: President Trump in Albuquerque, NM, Oct. 31, 2024

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No, a new $1,000 stimulus check hasn’t been approved as Donald Trump takes office

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