Trump ties state aid to midterm results in campaign rallies
The president has linked federal support for infrastructure, veterans, and energy to whether Republicans hold power in Congress after November.
By Talia Bennett ·
President Donald Trump has told voters that federal assistance for their states depends on who controls Congress after the midterms. The strategy centers on the idea that an all-Republican Washington will deliver tangible benefits, while a Democratic presence will stall or reduce support.
At a rally in Perry, Georgia, last week, Trump said he would gladly assist the state if Republican candidate Mike Collins wins the Senate seat. However, he suggested a different dynamic if Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff remains in office. Trump acted out a scenario where Ossoff calls for funds, noting that he does not care what Ossoff wants.
"There's a big difference between that and Pee-wee Herman calling," Trump said, using a nickname for Ossoff. The president has repeated this theme across states including North Carolina, Ohio, and Kansas this month.
In Greenville, North Carolina, Trump announced that $1 billion in cash settlements for Camp Lejeune veterans had been delivered. He stated he would direct the Justice Department to settle remaining claims quickly only if Republicans win the House and Senate. "So, if we don't win, there's no money," he told the crowd.
Jill Steen Dilgard, whose father served at Camp Lejeune and was later diagnosed with cancer, called the conditional approach unacceptable. She told the Associated Press that the president is playing politics with the health of military families. "It made me physically sick, and it infuriated me," Steen Dilgard said.
In Park City, Kansas, Trump linked a waiver allowing year-round sales of E15 ethanol-blended gas to the election of GOP Sen. Roger Marshall. He said the waiver would become permanent only if Marshall remains in the Senate, but not if Democrat Adam Hamilton wins the seat.
Hamilton's campaign spokesman Tyson Brody noted that Marshall has served in Congress for 10 years without passing permanent E15 legislation. Brody said Hamilton will work with anyone, including the president, to deliver results for Kansas.
In Vandalia, Ohio, Trump discussed disaster relief and stated he is not likely to help Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. He argued that personal relationships influence how presidents interact with state leaders. "I'm not gonna help her probably," he said.
The White House said Trump is committed to keeping a Republican majority to deliver on his agenda. Spokesman Davis Ingle cited tax, drug, and immigration policies as priorities. Ossoff responded by calling the strategy a losing tactic for a president who has raised costs for voters.
The remarks have injected political considerations into processes traditionally viewed as neutral, such as disaster aid and veterans' benefits. Trump said in Georgia that having people he likes call him makes a big difference in how he responds.
