The Memo: As Trump lavishes cash on voters, ethics experts raise alarm

descriptions off, selected

captions settings, opens captions settings dialog

captions off, selected

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

End of dialog window.

White House Headlines - October 9, 2026

White House Headlines - October 9, 2026

President Trump is doing everything he can to win favor with a dissatisfied electorate before the midterms — including promising money.

Speaking in San Antonio on Wednesday evening, Trump repeated his pledge to send $5,000 to every adult American if the GOP retains its narrow majorities in the House and the Senate.

Skeptics roll their eyes at the proposal, noting that previous Trump promises about checks purportedly garnered from tariff revenue and Department of Government Efficiency savings failed to materialize. 

Trump’s promise would also become moot if Democrats merely win a majority in the House. The consensus among political insiders in both parties is that they are highly likely to do so.

Nevertheless, voters can “count on it” that the checks would arrive if the GOP pulled off a double-victory, Trump promised the crowd in San Antonio.

Democrats don’t see the Trump tactic as either serious or effective.

“In some places it might matter, but in most places it won’t,” Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf told this column. “In places where Republicans should do well, they’re being clobbered right now. It would take a lot of checks for people to change their minds.”

Sheinkopf also noted that Trump has been making the promise often since he first unveiled the idea at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas a month ago. Many opinion polls have grown bleaker for Republicans during that time.

“People know they are [supposedly] getting the checks, and it hasn’t........

© The Hill