Trump is clearly trying to buy votes with taxpayer money

Ahead of the 2026 midterms, President Donald Trump is drawing on government money and resources to boost Republican prospects, CNN reports. At last month's Republican midterm convention he pledged $5,000 to every adult U. S. citizen if the party keeps control of both the House and the Senate, and he has repeated the offer online and at rallies in Alabama and Oklahoma. Over about 10 days his administration also aired more than a dozen publicly funded ads promoting him, and he held two White House events touting large economic projects in states with pivotal Senate contests, including Alaska and Iowa. The administration additionally mailed $500 checks to nearly 1 million Obamacare recipients and $90 payments to roughly 20 million seniors for Medicare Part B premiums.

CNN notes that Trump previously accused President Joe Biden of buying votes through infrastructure spending and student debt cancellation, calling the latter "corrupt."

The payoff is uncertain. A CNN poll found 77% of Americans doubt the $5,000 would materialize, and 64% to 36% said it was not a worthwhile use of federal funds. Reuters-Ipsos found two-thirds of registered voters considered the pledge improper.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →