Amid a record-setting government shutdown and Democratic wins in an off-year election, President Donald Trump has floated a series of unusual policy ideas.Fifty-year mortgages? Paying Americans, instead of insurers, for health coverage? Dividends of $2,000 from tariff revenues? Bonuses for air traffic controllers who showed up for work during the shutdown? All proposed by the president in the span of a few days.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listWe looked at each of these proposals, and whether policy experts think they are likely to come to fruition.Each idea is, for now, little more than a presidential musing on social media. To become reality, most would require formal proposals and legislation passed by both chambers of Congress. Other ideas, such as the mortgages, would likely require significant action by lenders.Adding a 50-year mortgage optionOn November 8, Trump posted to Truth Social side-by-side portraits of President Franklin D Roosevelt and himself, with “30-year mortgage” above Roosevelt and “50-year mortgage” above Trump. A headline said, “Great American Presidents.”The notion quickly drew backlash, among both housing policy experts and Trump’s own base of supporters. Politico reported that the idea had originated with Federal Housing Director Bill Pulte.Trump told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham on November 10, “All it means is you pay less per month. Pay it over a longer period of time. It’s not like a big factor. It might help a little bit.” During the interview, Ingraham corrected Trump, a lifelong real est …
