When a child is born, the government directly opens an investment account and deposits $1,000? It sounds unbelievable, but starting in 2025, newborns in the US will indeed encounter this kind of program. This plan, called the Trump Account, targets babies born between 2025 and 2028. Once implemented, they will receive initial government funding, but with strict restrictions—funds cannot be withdrawn or operated freely; they can only be invested in index funds tracking the market, locked in for 18 years.

Even more astonishing is the involvement of the founders of Dell Technologies. They announced a contribution of $6.25 billion to provide each of 25 million low-income children with an extra $250. This is the largest private charitable donation in US history aimed at children. Interestingly, after the donation statement was released on December 2, Dell Technologies’ stock price rose by 4.18% on December 3, adding over $6.7 billion to its market value in one day. The market is showing how valuable this donation is as a brand investment.

This account design is indeed smarter than simply giving direct subsidies. In the past, subsidies for milk powder and diapers would be spent quickly. But this plan transforms childbirth into a long-term investment. Doing the math makes it clear: with an initial $1,250 per newborn and an assumed annual return of 7%, locking in the account for 18 years, it could grow to about $4,200 by age 18. If families save additional money over the years, the startup capital at 18 could reach tens of thousands or even $200,000. Young people holding this money could indeed change their life trajectory.

The cleverest aspect of this plan is that it fundamentally narrows the gap between asset-rich and asset-poor families. Regardless of wealth, every child born automatically becomes a shareholder—an owner of giants like Apple and Microsoft. The core issue then becomes simply whether to get on the train or not.

From a national perspective, over 3 million newborns each year will have their accounts forcibly invested in index funds for 18 years, creating a super-long-term and extremely stable cash flow. It’s like turning the growth of the country’s new generation into a long-term asset investment.

Where does the money come from, and who will cooperate? The answer is straightforward—everyone benefits. The government uses the initial $1,000 to leverage larger market inflows; families gain a worry-free savings plan; companies and wealthy individuals enhance their social responsibility image through donations, which also serve as indirect investments in the future; Wall Street welcomes this steady stream of new funds and clients.

However, the plan isn’t perfect. Savvy families can optimize their use of it, but the stock market itself involves luck, and entrusting so much long-term capital to financial institutions also brings regulatory challenges. Ultimately, this is a long-term gamble involving time, compound interest, and institutional systems.

No matter how you view Trump, this plan at least raises a thought-provoking question: when social problems become complex, are subsidies and slogans enough? Can we design clever rules that allow everyone to solve social issues while planning for themselves? This baby investment account plan is precisely an experimental implementation of that idea.