Trump Announces Illegal Bribe for Votes

Trump, during the RNC midterm convention tonight, announced that if the Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate, he will send every US adult $5,000.  This is absurd and illegal on multiple levels but that's the sort of thing you expect from what is now a blatantly authoritarian political regime.

Trumpapalooza is not going well.

The more people are reminded that Trump is not the leader of MAGA but also of The Republican Party, the more people don't want to vote for the Republican Party.

Trump cannot fundamentally accept that he might be the problem. It's amazing.

Lol we're still waiting on the last $2,000 paycheck he promised, along with those cheaper groceries and affordable gas, a healthcare plan; pretty much everything Americans ought to have for being the "greatest country in the world". 

Meanwhile, construction on the Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Ballroom is still in full vigor. 

You know that Trump had a personal hand in the production.

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Surely people aren’t still dumb enough after the magical doge and tariff checks that never came 

Side note, I totally thought I’d missed some part of The Boys watching this until I saw Trump. Absolute insanity 

This is like Check #6 he has promised. Still haven't seen shit. 

Sure do smell it though. 

The people at the event were already going to vote for him.

Everyone else is watching the football.

Um, nope. It's a policy that would have to go through Congress which would take Republican majorities to get through since the modern day democrat party hates America and would never think of putting actual money in any citizens hands. So no, it is not illegal. Anyone with an IQ above 10 knows this.

You know he is lying no?

Are are.you just plain dumb?

Look I have a discussion on this but it's not worded like this! Lol!  Please explain some facts NAME ONE ILLEGAL PART I'll give you 1mil I'm serious I wanna hear the statute

I appreciate you sending the money already, anticipating how this would go down for you.

18 U.S. Code § 597 - Expenditures to influence voting 

Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate [...]

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

This is also an example of it being illegal because Trump lacks the authority to spend money and made no reference to Congress.

Trump said quote "I will issue a dividend..."

This is more "not legal" than illegal, there not being a defined criminal code for the president violating the Constitution.

I mean, I can't think of a law that it would break, since it is similar to an election promise such as the cost of living relief from Covid. That being said, the moral side of this is pretty crazy, just throwing around cash on the condition that your party holds a majority is quite the idea.

Edit: Specifically, since every US citizen, regardless of whether they voted/who they voted for, will receive the payment, is why I don't believe this would be illegal

"If our party remains in power, everybody will get some money! Yaaay :D!"

Does that statement enforce the idea that he did not try to influence American citizens to vote in his favour via monetary reward (bribe)?

Do you think he did NOT try to sway democrats and undecided folk to his side with that statement?

Specifically, since every US citizen, regardless of whether they voted/who they voted for, will receive the payment, is why I don't believe this would be illegal

You may, however, be unfortunately correct here. . .

Well considering that under US federal law, it is illegal to give payments that are intended to influence the way a person is voting, I would say this was illegal.

Hard to differ this from an election promise. Politicians promise stuff like tax breaks, pension increases, etc all the time to push swing demographics in their favour. Only difference is that this has just dropped the pretext of being an actually good policy.

Also, I'm definitely not in support of this. I'm Australian, and every time I check in to see how the US is doing, my jaw drops a little more. I also study Australian law, not US law, so take what I say with a grain of salt as well.

It's all moot because the Supreme Court will go to bat for anything Trump does, but the campaign promise argument seems like the equivalent of mobsters talking about buying "flour" on the phone in case it's tapped.

Is there any precedent of a politician promising a one time payment of cash as a campaign promise? Not tax cuts etc but like Trump basically saying he'd cut people a check.

No. Its not OK in Australia either. I am in Adelaide right now, and these folks do not agree with the above Australian at all. They see it as an obvious bribe, and not like an "election promise". They also find it weird that an Australian is giving excuses to an American politician. 

Ultimately anyone who believes this should be locked up for their own safety.

everyone gets $5000 isnt bad