Laura Ingraham presses Trump on $5,000 ‘bribe’

Turns out, very few people were impressed by President Trump’s bribe attempt Wednesday night.

$5,000 to every American adult if Republicans win control of Congress. That estimated price tag is at least $1.3 trillion and would require congressional approval.

One of the best critiques came from conservative National Review columnist Charles C.W. Cooke, who called Trump’s proposal “just preposterous.”

He released an opinion piece saying: “Painfully aware that, once the midterms are over, he risks being gradually consigned to irrelevance, President Trump has hit once again upon a Hail Mary plan for political success. That plan is bribery.”

He went on to say: “Last night, after vocally condemning the rise of socialism in the United States, Trump pledged some of his own.”

The contradiction really is crazy. At the convention, Trump warned voters that Democrats are socialists who want to give away their money. Then he proposed giving Americans $5,000 each if Republicans win. For nothing else other than the fact that they won.

If the policies are working, why is the sales pitch a check?

The enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, increasing premiums for many Americans. Oil and gas prices have surged amid the ongoing Iran conflict, and tariffs remain a major part of the administration’s economic strategy while they hurt the average American consumer.

So instead of explaining those policies and why Americans should stick with them, the message here seems to be: Here’s $5,000. Let me continue to make your life unaffordable.

Even if you’re not upset about the fact that this sounded like a bribe, this is hardly the first promise of an erroneous payout that had absolutely no merit or chance of happening. CNN’s Manu Raju helped refresh our memory.

The reality is, there is no $5,000 check getting approved by Congress, and federal law does prohibit offering payment for voting. So this is not happening.

But between the tariffs, the Iran war and the mass deportation agenda that have all negatively affected our economy, this convention helped me realize that the Republican message is now: If you can’t beat ’em, bribe ’em.

Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.