Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, accused President Donald Trump on Sunday of attempting to "buy votes" with his proposal to send $5,000 checks to every adult American if Republicans retain control of Congress after the 2026 midterm elections. Appearing on CBS News' Face the Nation, Kelly was asked about a series of cash-payment initiatives announced by Trump, including one-time $90 payments for Medicare Part B beneficiaries and $500 Affordable Care Act refunds that are already being distributed to certain marketplace enrollees. Asked whether he supported the efforts, Kelly, a vocal critic of Trump's, said assistance for seniors and working-class Americans was important but argued voters should view the $5,000 proposal skeptically.
Trump first unveiled the $5,000 payment or "Trump Dividend" concept during the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention in September and renewed the pledge on Saturday in a video message. The president has said every adult U.S. citizen would receive the payment if Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate. The idea has generated significant attention because of its potential cost.
Estimates based on the adult population suggest the proposal could exceed $1 trillion, and any such plan would require congressional approval. Trump has not publicly provided a detailed funding mechanism or outlined the legislative path needed to implement the payments. The proposal comes as the administration rolls out other direct-payment programs.
Nearly 21 million Medicare Part B beneficiaries are expected to receive one-time $90 payments this month through the Medicare Improvement Fund, while roughly 950,000 HealthCare.gov customers are receiving $500 ACA-related refund checks funded through unspent user fees collected from insurers. Those programs have fueled accusations from critics that the White House is using cash payments to bolster support ahead of the midterms. Trump and his allies have defended the initiatives as targeted relief for Americans facing rising healthcare costs and broader economic pressures.
During his interview with Face the Nation's host Margaret Brennan, Kelly reserved his sharpest criticism for the $5,000 proposal. While acknowledging that some Americans could benefit from financial relief, he said the timing and political conditions attached to the offer raised concerns. "You got to remember, this is a guy that gave a big tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, to billionaires and millionaires, and then to partially pay for it, he's kicking people off of their healthcare, off of Medicaid," Kelly said about Trump.
"He's taking food benefits away from people that are having a hard time affording food, even children, in order to help out his family and his friends. I think people should see this for what it is." Referring specifically to the promise to issue payments if Republicans keep control of Congress, he added: "This is just a payoff, and he's trying to buy votes." The comments reflect a growing Democratic effort to frame the payment proposal less as an economic plan and more as a campaign tactic. Other Democrats, including Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, have similarly characterized the promise as a form of political inducement tied directly to election results.
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