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Topics: Donald Trump, Parenting, Money
Emily Brown
Topics: Donald Trump, Parenting, Money
Members of the public have been left with mixed reactions after hearing Donald Trump endorses the idea of a so-called 'baby bonus' to help tackle declining birth rates in the United States.
The latest figures on birth rates in the US were released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month, revealing that approximately 3.6 million babies were born in the country in 2024.
The data revealed that the fertility rate, 54.6 births for every 1,000 women of reproductive age, increased less than 1 percent from the record low it was at in 2023.
Elon Musk, who has 14 children himself, responded to the news by declaring on Twitter that 'low birth rates will end civilization', and he's not the only one discussing the matter.
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According to the New York Times, the White House has been welcoming ideas to encourage an increase in birth rates in recent weeks, including reserving Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or who have children.
Another potentially more controversial idea is a $5,000 cash 'baby bonus' given to every American mother after delivery.
The news of the ideas comes from four people who have been part of the meetings who spoke to The Times, but Trump himself showed support for the baby bonus idea when questioned about it by reporters.
During a meeting at the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the cash incentive by The New York Post and responded: “Sounds like a good idea to me."
But other people aren't so sure, with many taking to Reddit to share their thoughts on the idea and pointing out that $5,000 won't go very far to helping raise a child.
One Reddit user wrote, sarcastically: "Yes because $5K will be enough to support to a kid to adulthood….not linked but I think average cost of a child through their life is like $3-400k…"
Another agreed, adding: "Hell, $5K won’t even pay for the birth!"
"This is some weird effed up sh*t. Not to mention $5,000 doesn't go very far in today's world. It is like 2 months rent and a couple trips to the grocery store," another wrote.
Meanwhile, other readers shared their concerns about offering a cash incentive for childbirth, with one writing: "If $5,000 convinces someone to have a child, they shouldn’t be having a child."
In a statement to The Times, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump 'is proudly implementing policies to uplift American families'.
“The President wants America to be a country where all children can safely grow up and achieve the American dream,” she said. “As a mother myself, I am proud to work for a president who is taking significant action to leave a better country for the next generation.”