Is Trump’s $5,000 Pledge a Sign of Panic?
By Sarah Smith, North America editor, reporting from Dallas
We all know that Donald Trump does not feel the need to adhere to the normal rules of political campaigning. Even by his own unconventional standards, his extravagant promise to pay every American citizen $5,000 (£3,700) if the Republicans win the midterm elections was bizarre.
This enormous cash pledge was not the headline of his keynote address at the first night of his midterms Republican convention on Wednesday. He slipped in the mention about an hour into his lengthy speech – just when the audience’s attention was starting to waver.
The president offered no details on how this more than one-trillion-dollar pledge will be paid for or how the payments would be distributed. Asked for more information, the White House stated that "the announcement is the latest proof that President Trump does what the so-called ‘experts’ say cannot be done: he delivers for the American people", but provided no further specifics.
The announcement itself was met with enthusiastic applause from supporters inside the Republican convention arena in Dallas, Texas. However, Republicans in tight races in November’s election—who need to win over sceptical swing voters, including moderate Republicans and independents—largely stayed away from the event. Many of Trump’s fellow Republicans were clearly taken by surprise. Some welcomed the announcement, but those critical of Trump were quick to denounce it.
Image source: Getty Images
Trump says every adult American will get $5,000 if Republicans win midterms
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Conservatives who have clashed with Trump before, especially over how the federal debt has continued to balloon under his presidency, were scathing in their response. Thomas Massie, the Republican representative from Kentucky who lost his primary over Trump criticisms earlier this year, posted on X: "I don’t know about you all, but frankly I’m insulted by the notion that my vote this November could be bought for 5k. Not to mention the inflation this would cause. All things considered, I cannot in good conscience accept a penny less than 10k!"
Senator Susan Collins, who swerved Dallas to campaign in Maine where she’s facing a tight race for re-election, said: "Tax and spending decisions should be made based on the needs of the American people and the state of the economy, they should not appear to be tied to election results."
Democrats for their part have labelled it an "empty promise". Legal experts say it’s unlikely Trump could approve such a vast sum via a presidential executive order—but the president suggested on Thursday he wouldn’t be going to Congress. Speaking to CBS, he said: "I don’t think Congress would need to approve the spending… I think they will do it, if we needed it."
But plenty of fiscally conservative Republican representatives would likely refuse to support this kind of spending. Former Representative Bob Good dismissed the "Trump dividend" as a "socialist vote-buying scheme"
