Trump warns he’ll withhold disaster aid and benefits if GOP loses midterms
Donald Trump told supporters that federal disaster assistance and other payments will be tied to Republicans keeping control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
With the midterm vote weeks away, Donald Trump used campaign stops in North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio and other states to make federal aid contingent on Republican victories. He suggested additional FEMA funding for Hurricane Helene recovery would depend on Michael Whatley’s Senate win, and that settlement of Camp Lejeune water-contamination claims would only occur if Republicans control both chambers. In Kansas he promised a permanent waiver for year-round E15 fuel sales if Senator Roger Marshall is re-elected, dismissing the idea as a joke in other contexts.
Trump also floated a $5,000 payout to every U.S. adult contingent on a GOP congressional sweep, a promise economists say is unlikely to materialize. Critics, including Governor Josh Stein, labeled the statements as inappropriate political pressure on disaster assistance. The comments come as polls show Democrats gaining ground in traditionally Republican states amid rising inflation linked to the war in Iran.
Why it matters
Voters must understand whether federal aid is being used as political leverage in the upcoming elections.
How this story developed
- Oct 6 Three factors that could derail Democrats' hoped-for midterm surge
- Oct 11 In a 42-second clip shared on his X account, Trump announced a $5,000 dividend for every adult citizen contingent on a Republican victory in the upcoming midterms. He contrasted this with a claim that Democratic policies would raise taxes and trigger a depression. The proposal, first mentioned at the RNC convention in Dallas, lacks a disclosed funding source, though officials suggest it could be financed through budget reconciliation. Critics within the GOP, including Rand Paul and Chip Roy, have voiced concerns about the trillion-plus cost and the nation’s $40 trillion debt.
- Oct 15 According to a poll of 1,202 registered Americans taken between October 9 and 12, Donald Trump’s overall approval rating has slipped to 36%, the lowest point in either of his terms, with a 64% disapproval rate. Among independents, only 22% express approval, and his rating on inflation also dropped to 22%, marking another record low. The decline is most pronounced among voters younger than 45, those without a college degree, non-white voters and households earning less than $50,000 annually. Experts said the numbers signal a difficult environment for Republican candidates as midterm elections approach, noting that the president’s low standing could hinder the party’s ability to retain its narrow majorities in the House and Senate. The poll also revealed that a majority of respondents view the economy negatively and consider the cost of living their top concern. The study carries a margin of error of 2.5 percent.
- Oct 19 Cook Political Report upgraded 18 House races toward Democrats and new polling aggregates show double‑digit Democratic leads.
- Oct 20 A new poll shows approval at 34% and disapproval at 66%.
- Oct 21 Trump announced a $5,000 payment to each adult contingent on Republican control of Congress.
In this story
Related stories
18 in this thread