President Donald Trump is promising financial assistance, manufacturing investments and other policy benefits as Republicans fight to keep control of Congress in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.
At rallies in several states, Trump has linked some of those proposals directly to Republican wins, prompting criticism from Democrats and skepticism from voters about whether the benefits will actually arrive.
According to NBC News and TIME reports published October 21, the proposals include $5,000 payments for American adults, an $8 billion aid package for farmers and investments in state-based manufacturing.
Trump has also promoted changes to fuel regulations and raised the possibility of placing the Space Force Academy in Ohio.
Farm Aid and State Investments
During a Monday rally in Kansas for Republican Sen.
Roger Marshall, Trump announced the proposed farm assistance to help producers cope with higher diesel costs during harvest season.
TIME reported that diesel prices had stayed above $6 per gallon since mid-September, as oil prices rose amid the war with Iran.
Trump tied further agricultural funding to the election outcome while addressing rural voters who helped elect him in 2024.
"When the Republicans win, we will pass even more funding for our farmers. We love our farmers," Trump said.
The president also promised to end summer restrictions on selling fuel blended with 15% ethanol.
In Kentucky, he announced a proposed $100 million investment in a pharmaceutical company's manufacturing facility.
In Ohio, he said he would "very strongly" consider the state for the Space Force Academy if his preferred Republican candidates won.
NBC News reported that Trump had also teased "more goodies" for states should Republicans maintain control of Congress, making government support a recurring feature of his campaign appearances.
The $5,000 Dividend and Its Cost
The most expensive proposal is a $5,000 dividend for every American adult, announced at a Dallas rally in September.
TIME estimated that payments to approximately 240 million adult citizens would cost about $1.2 trillion, raising questions about how the government would finance the program.
A September Wall Street Journal poll found that 64% of respondents considered the proposed checks a "bad idea right now."
A separate NBC News Decision Desk poll found that only 14% of US adults expected to receive the $5,000 payment, including just 53% of self-identified Republicans who did not expect it.
Trump has also promoted other payments.
In September, the administration announced plans to refund more than 950,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees across 30 states $500 each for alleged overcharges collected by the Biden administration.
Earlier in October, it announced a one-time payment of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees cover their premiums.
Some recipients have reported receiving the money.
However, several earlier proposals have not resulted in payments.
Since November 2025, Trump has floated $2,000 stimulus payments or tax rebates funded by revenue from tariffs imposed during his second term, but the proposed dividends had not materialized as of October 2026.
In February 2025, Trump also discussed returning 20% of federal cost-cutting savings to citizens while directing another 20% toward reducing the national debt.
"We're thinking about giving 20% back to the American citizens, and 20% down to pay back debt," Trump said.
That proposal also failed to produce a payment program.
During his first term, Trump promised $200 prescription-drug discount cards for 33 million older Americans enrolled in Medicare, but the cards were never distributed before his term ended.
His record includes a major exception.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, eligible adults received payments of up to $1,200, with an additional $500 for each qualifying child.
The Internal Revenue Service had delivered more than 160 million payments totaling over $270 billion by October that year, according to TIME.
Trump nevertheless lost the presidential election to former Vice President Joe Biden.
Polling suggests the latest promises may face a credibility problem.
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted in September found that most voters were skeptical Trump would deliver the proposed $5,000 payments, even if Republicans won the midterms.
Democrats have criticized the conditional offers as an attempt to influence voters through government benefits.
Trump is also committing substantial personal political resources to the election.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, he said, "I have spent, or will be spending, over 400 Million Dollars by Election Day," adding that more than $300 million had already gone toward advertising, voter outreach, rallies and election-related programs.
Federal Election Commission filings showed that MAGA Inc., Trump's super political action committee, allocated $277 million to support Republicans from the beginning of September through the first two weeks of October.
The filings also showed approximately $25 million in donations during that period, bringing the committee's fundraising since Trump's 2024 reelection to about $473 million.
