Trump Keeps Promising Cash on the Campaign Trail—but Has a Poor History of Following Through

Donald Trump, the U.S. President, has been promising financial benefits to voters during the midterms in an effort to retain Republicans' majorities in Congress. At a Kansas rally on Monday, Trump announced an $8 billion aid package to help American farmers offset higher diesel costs. Diesel prices have remained above $6 per gallon since mid-September due to the war with Iran.

Trump has promised voters a $5,000 dividend if Republicans maintain their majorities, although this would cost around $1.2 trillion and has been criticized as a vote-buying scheme by Democrats. Other cash offers include $500 refunds to Obamacare enrollees and $90 payments for Medicare premiums. While these promises have been well-received at Trump's rallies, it remains unclear if they will translate into additional votes.

Voter turnout is typically low during midterm elections, and Trump has urged supporters to imagine that he is running for office. However, some voters remain skeptical, with 64% of a Wall Street Journal poll respondents believing Trump's proposed $5,000 checks were a bad idea. Trump's past cash proposals have often failed to materialize, such as his promise of $2,000 stimulus checks and $200 discount cards for Medicare recipients, which did not happen during his first term.