In short
- US President Donald Trump promised US$5,000 to every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress in the 3 November midterm elections; the measure is not approved and would require authorisation by Congress.
- More than 20 million retirees are to receive a cheque of about US$90 intended to help them pay the Medicare Part B premium, Trump announced on his Truth Social account.
- An analysis by the health policy foundation KFF found the payment will not reach the 35 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in private plans, and the standard annual premium of US$2,435 will rise by US$79 next year.
- An AP-NORC poll published last week found 69% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, including 57% of respondents who identify as Republicans.
- Five election forecasting models give Democrats between a 56% and 73% chance of controlling the Senate and between a 76% and 99% chance of winning the House of Representatives.
US President Donald Trump has promised direct payments to several groups of voters ahead of the 3 November midterm elections, including a cheque of about US$90 for more than 20 million Medicare retirees and US$5,000 for every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress. The cost of living is the central campaign issue.
What payments has Donald Trump announced?
The most recent measure is a cheque of around US$90 for more than 20 million retirees, intended to help them pay their Medicare Part B premium, the public health insurance for people over 65. Trump announced it on his Truth Social account: “My Administration will immediately begin sending checks of almost $100.”
In early October the administration also announced a US$500 payment to around one million people insured under the programme known as Obamacare. Both announcements have drawn criticism for coinciding with the election campaign.
Will the US$5,000 payment to every adult happen?
The promise of US$5,000 per adult, made in September, is not an approved measure and would require authorisation by Congress. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and the midterm elections are on 3 November.
Who is left out of the Medicare cheque?
An analysis by the health policy foundation KFF found the payment will not reach the 35 million beneficiaries enrolled in private plans. The standard annual Medicare premium of US$2,435 will rise by US$79 next year, absorbing much of the cheque.
What do polls say about the economy and Trump?
Almost three in four Americans describe the economy as poor, and 69% disapprove of Trump’s handling of it, according to an AP-NORC poll published last week. Among respondents who identify as Republicans, 57% disapprove. Obamacare premiums rose this year after a pandemic-era tax credit expired, and the war with Iran has driven up energy costs.
“We keep telling the American people not to believe what’s in their own checkbook. That’s not going to work,” Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said in an interview with NBC.
Who is favoured to win the midterms?
Five election forecasting models give Democrats between a 56% and 73% chance of controlling the Senate and between a 76% and 99% chance of winning the House of Representatives. The US vote falls in a packed electoral period in the Americas: in Brazil, the presidential race between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro goes to a runoff on 25 October.
Separately, in the United States a Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent in Texas has been charged with assault.
Frequently asked questions
What payments has Donald Trump announced before the US midterms?
Trump announced a cheque of about US$90 for more than 20 million Medicare retirees and a US$500 payment for around one million people insured under Obamacare. He also promised US$5,000 to every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress.
Is the US$5,000 payment to every adult approved?
No. The promise, made in September, is not an approved measure and would require authorisation by Congress, where Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers.
Who will not receive the US$90 Medicare cheque?
According to an analysis by the health policy foundation KFF, the payment will not reach the 35 million beneficiaries enrolled in private plans.
What do polls say about Trump’s handling of the economy?
An AP-NORC poll published last week found 69% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, including 57% of respondents who identify as Republicans.
With reporting from en.mercopress.com.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
