Trump Pledges $5,000 Payment to Adults if Republicans Keep Congress, Drawing Criticism

President Donald Trump promised to give $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November elections, according to a column published by The Guardian written by journalist Steven Greenhouse.

Greenhouse reported that Trump made the pledge nearly an hour into a lengthy speech last Wednesday at the Republican midterm convention. According to the column, Trump prefaced the announcement by saying, "Only I can make this promise to you."

Greenhouse, who focuses on labor, workplace and economic issues, characterized the pledge in his column as "shameless and irresponsible," writing that it "certainly looked and smelled like a bribe." He argued that the plan would cause significant economic damage and said it presumes voters can be easily persuaded by such an offer.

The column did not specify a funding mechanism for the proposed payments, nor did it provide additional details from Trump's speech beyond the pledge itself. The White House has not issued a public statement responding to the criticism as described in the source material.

The remarks come as Republicans seek to maintain their majorities in both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. Greenhouse's column represents a critical assessment of the proposal rather than a comprehensive account of Trump's full remarks at the convention.