House Speaker Mike Johnson committed in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Congress would “work through” President Donald Trump’s promise to give $5,000 to American adults if Republicans keep the House and Senate after midterm elections.
“I commit that Congress will work through it and find consensus on that, like I have to do everything else,” Johnson said, responding to a question about whether he committed that Americans would receive the checks if Republicans win the midterm elections.
Johnson noted that “it takes some time,” pointing to Republicans’ slim majorities.
“I never go out and give big commitments on the front end because I’ve got to work through it, and that’s what we do every single day,” he said.
Asked whether he was willing to double down on Trump’s promise to voters, Johnson said, “I’ll work with the president hand in hand, as I do all the time, and we’ll deliver for the American people.”
“That’s the promise,” he added.
At the Dallas convention, Trump spoke on both nights, making a promise to the American people on Wednesday to issue $5,000 checks called the “Trump dividend,” if Republicans do well in the midterms. The move sparked concerns from from Democrats, some Republicans and economic experts. Critics have characterized the president’s promise as an attempt to bribe voters and said that the move would drive up inflation.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump dividend,” the president told attendees in Dallas.
Asked later whether Congress would need to approve such a disbursement of funds, Trump told CBS News, “we think not,” but, “I think they will do it if we needed it.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., sidestepped a question Thursday on Fox News about whether congressional Republicans would support such a measure.
“Well, that’s a good question. And we’ll cross our bridge when we come to it,” he said.
Johnson also addressed the ongoing war in Iran, which shows no signs of resolving soon. Congress controls the nation’s funding, but Republicans have largely been willing to provide the administration with requested funds. Asked whether the White House has a blank check to continue the war, Johnson said “no.”
“The war is not continuing,” he added. “What we’re trying to do now is resolve what has already been a big success.”
The U.S. and Iran, though, have continued sporadic strikes, while shipping across the Strait of Hormuz remains far below the levels before the war began. Higher gas and oil prices show no signs of relenting. A recent NBC News poll found that 69% of U.S. adults disapprove of the president’s handling of the war.
The national average gas price sits at $4.31 per gallon, which is a $1.33 increase since the war began. Johnson acknowledged that “we got to make sure that gas prices are down at planet Earth,” adding, “that’s what the president works on every single day.”
Last week, Trump said at the Republican convention that the war would “be over very shortly after the election.”
Asked whether he was confident the war would be over by the 2028 presidential election, Johnson said, “of course, we certainly plan for that to be true.”
“And I would like it to be done, of course, today, certainly before the midterm election. But that’s just about a little more than 50 days away right now, and so we’re going to be realistic about this,” he said, adding that the war was “a complex situation.”
“We believe it’ll be resolved soon,” he added later. “The president says right after the election, and I certainly pray and hope that that’s right.”
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