How anti-bribery laws apply to Trump’s promise of $5,000 payments if Republicans keep control of Congress

Bribery involves offering money to a particular person, but Trump did not make his $5,000 offer to any single voter or set of voters.

By: Austin Sarat, Amherst College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 11, 2026

Words: 1,196

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

By Austin Sarat, Amherst College

In his keynote address to the Republican midterm convention on Sept. 9, 2026, President Donald Trump promised that if Republicans retain control of Congress in November, he would authorize a US$5,000 payment to every American adult.

Trump’s offer seems to run afoul of federal laws, which make it a crime to pay for votes.

After Trump’s speech, political commentator Sam Stein posted on X: “trump …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.