Trump promises to distribute $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans maintain Congress

US President Donald Trump said today (Sunday) that the United States is capable of fulfilling his promise to give American adults a “cash dividend” worth $5,000 if the Republican Party maintains control of Congress in the midterm elections.

Trump explained to reporters in response to a question whether Congress would need to approve this pledge: “I don’t know, but it’s easy if the Republicans win.” 5 thousand dollars for every adult in the country, and we can easily afford that because we make a lot of money,” he said, adding that trillions of dollars are flowing into the country.

Trump raised the idea of ​​disbursing $5,000 during a speech he gave at the Republican Party convention last week. Speaking to reporters today, in Ireland, where he was attending a golf tournament at his club in the city of Doonbeg, the President said that the US government has the funds necessary to finance these payments.

But US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said today that any payments of this kind would require approval by Congress.

He added, in an interview with the “State of the Union” program on CNN: “Of course, the devil is in the details. We have to study all of that.”

Democratic politicians criticized the idea on talk shows this morning, with House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries telling ABC that it was “not a serious proposal.”

Republican Representative Mike Lawler from New York State, who is running in a close election race, did not explicitly commit to Trump's proposal to spend $5,000.

He told ABC: “I support returning money to the pockets of hardworking Americans,” referring to the tax cuts included in the bill that Republicans approved last year.

He added: “But whether you call it a stimulus check or a cash distribution, the question is: How are you going to finance that? This is my focus. “We have a debt of $4 trillion, and we must take this issue seriously.”

Lisa Gilbert, co-chair of the consumer rights watchdog Public Citizen, previously described the move as an attempt to buy votes.

She said: “This blatant and desperate attempt to buy votes in the November elections represents a new low. Trump knows that he cannot implement this, and yet he is trying to bribe voters with a false promise to obtain money to help his party win the elections, which is contrary to all principles of American democracy.

Less than two months before the midterm elections, signs of a democratic wave are increasing in Washington, which may bring to mind the 2018 elections, when dissatisfaction with Donald Trump's first term pushed the House of Representatives into the hands of the Democrats. But the difference this time is that the stakes for Trump seem much higher, as losing Congress does not only mean disrupting his legislative agenda in the last two years of his presidency; Rather, it may mean opening dozens of files that the White House - thanks to the Republican majority - has succeeded in keeping away from the tools of investigation and parliamentary subpoenas.

The latest public opinion indicators show that the risk is no longer hypothetical. Several polls give the Democrats an advantage over the Republicans in the general congressional vote, while a Washington Post-Ipsos poll showed that the Democrats are three points ahead among registered voters, bringing the difference to 8 points among voters who are completely confident that they will vote.

Also, Democrats are more enthusiastic about participating than Republicans, by a greater margin than they were before the 2018 wave. In the Economist-YouGov poll about which party Americans will vote for, 42 percent said they would vote for the Democratic candidate, and 35 percent said they would vote for the Republican candidate, while 23 percent remained undecided; Whether they are indecisive, may support another option, or abstain from voting.

This gap in enthusiasm is perhaps the most disturbing sign for the Republican Party. Midterm elections are often decided by who goes to the polls, not just who leads in the polls. Data on special and primary elections since 2024 indicate advanced Democratic performance in several regions, while sectors of voters who supported Trump two years ago appear less enthusiastic about returning to voting next November.

The economy and war weigh on Trump's shoulders

The potential wave is fueled not only by the traditional hostility of a midterm president; Rather, it is an economy that a large number of Americans see as worse than it was on the eve of the 2018 elections. Recent polls show that the majority describe economic conditions as “weak” or “average,” while gasoline, food, and housing prices have become a constant source of pressure on families.

In addition, there is a factor that was not present in 2018, which is the war with Iran. Just as the Iraq war contributed to weakening the Republicans during the 2006 elections, the Iran war today has become a political burden on the White House. Especially as it continues without a clear end and the cost of energy increases. In this context, Trump's situation seems more difficult compared to the 2018 elections, when many voters criticized his personality. But they were more satisfied with the economy.

The New York Times notes that Republicans are finding it increasingly difficult to separate Trump from their candidates. The president himself decided to put himself at the heart of the campaign, and promised the threatened representatives that he would be with them until November, and promised to pay $5,000 to every American adult, if the Republicans won a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and warned his supporters of the possible consequences of the Republicans losing control of Congress.

The newspaper considered that linking Trump with Republican candidates is an unsafe gamble. If Trump succeeds in mobilizing his base, he may give the Republican candidates an important boost. But if the elections become a referendum on his declining popularity, he may drag them with him into defeat.

Republican wall to repel the wave

However, talk of a “blue wave” does not mean that the path is open for Democrats. The Republicans have a stronger wall of defense than in 2018, and its elements are the electoral map; Redrawing districts and partisan polarization have reduced the number of Republican seats in areas that lean primarily Democratic.

The Washington Post's analyzes indicate that seat No. 218, required to control the Assembly, is now located in a district that Trump won by a margin of approximately 5 points, which means that Democrats need to storm explicitly Republican areas, and not just regain the suburbs that they previously lost.

Money comes as a second element in the wall, as Trump's team has already expanded its campaign spending to about $57 million, directing money to House and Senate races in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Alaska, North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan. Republicans have also benefited from recent court decisions that have expanded the ability of political committees and outside groups to spend and coordinate, allowing them to turn their financial advantage into more intense advertising in swing districts. But even Republicans realize that money and a map may not be enough if the election turns into a national referendum on the president.

Why does Trump fear a Democratic House?

The real reason for Trump's fear goes beyond losing seats. According to the Washington Post, Democrats have already begun preparing a broad investigation agenda if they regain the House of Representatives. Members and employees are expected to chair committees, collect files, and seek outside expertise to prepare for the use of subpoena and investigative powers from the first days. At the forefront of the files is the wealth of Trump and his family.

The House Oversight Committee is already planning to open investigations into cryptocurrency files, foreign deals, and companies linked to Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Jared Kushner, in addition to Trump’s settlement with the IRS and the “Truth Social” platform.

There is also the presidential pardon file, including pardon decisions for people, some of whom have financial or political ties to Trump’s circle, as well as broad pardons for those accused in the events of January 6.

Immigration, intelligence and foreign policy

Democrats also plan to investigate the Trump administration's immigration policy; Especially alleged abuses during deportations, detention of legal residents and citizens, increased deaths in detention centers, and the use of the National Guard in cities run by Democrats. As for intelligence, Democrat Jim Himes wants to review the cases of intelligence officials who were dismissed after presenting estimates that did not agree with the president’s political line, including assessments related to Iran and Venezuela.

Foreign policy seems likely to be one of the most sensitive files. Democrat Gregory Meeks wants to investigate the way Trump used Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to negotiate with Iran, Israel, Russia and Ukraine, amid questions about the role of the State Department and potential conflicts of interest. Investigations may include the Iran War, trade deals, the Qatari presidential plane, the Gaza reconstruction, the peace council, and other military operations.

The specter of Epstein and impeachment

The Jeffrey Epstein file remains a dangerous political weapon. Democrats want to hold new hearings and keep the issue in the public spotlight. Although the authorities did not accuse Trump of participating in Epstein's crimes, his long-standing social relationship with him provides Democrats with political material that will remain embarrassing for the White House.

As for the impeachment procedures, they are more complex, as some democratic bases want to act immediately if the party regains the council, but prominent leaders warn against turning investigations into an end in themselves.

On the other hand, President Trump's advisors are working to confront the worst in all scenarios, as the White House itself is acting as if the possibility of losing the Council is serious. The Office of the President's Legal Counsel has already begun preparing officials on how to deal with Democratic-controlled committees. The Ministry of Justice also put forward legal memorandums expanding the use of the “executive order privilege” to limit the possibility of interrogating advisors and obtaining some documents.

Dave Rapallo, a former Democratic official on the Oversight Committee, believes that these steps are among the clearest indicators that the administration is actually preparing for the possibility of losing the House of Representatives.

In parallel, Trump is trying to change the rules of the game itself. His administration has pushed to tighten voting rules and expand searches for noncitizen voters, despite no evidence of widespread fraud, moves that have raised objections from election officials from both parties and Democrats' concerns about the administration's interference in the electoral process.

Does a blue wave occur? The answer is not simple. Democrats have anger, enthusiasm, the president's declining popularity, and economic and war fears. But the Republicans have a more fortified map, more money, and districts redrawn in their favor, and the “MAGA” base is still fiercely loyal to Trump. This is why the 2026 elections may be different from 2018: the waves may be higher, but the Republican shore is more fortified. If Trump's approval rating remains low, and the economy and war continue to pressure voters, it is difficult to imagine Republicans preventing all losses.

But the real question is its scale: Will they lose only a few seats, or will the wave of discontent turn into a sweep that reaches the Senate as well?

For Trump, the difference between the two scenarios is huge. Keeping Congress means another two years of relative political control. As for the loss of the House of Representatives, and perhaps the Senate, it means that the last half of his term may shift from the stage of implementing his agenda to the stage of permanent defense of his presidency, his family, and his decisions before democratic investigative committees, which have the power of summons, the budget, and the media platform. This is why it seems that Trump is not running in the November elections only for the Republican Party; He's also in it for himself.