Trump promises $90 checks to 20 million Medicare seniors ahead of midterms

President Donald Trump has announced plans to send “nearly $100” checks to more than 20 million seniors on Medicare, his latest pledge of money to voters before November’s midterm elections.

Politico reports that Trump said on Friday the payments would “help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums,” and would be funded from the Medicare Improvement Fund. A White House fact sheet specified a one-time $90 payment.

The fund is generally appropriated by Congress, not distributed by presidential order.

“I pledged to protect and preserve Medicare and Social Security, which were on the verge of RUIN by Joe Biden, who foolishly and maliciously let tens of millions of Illegal Aliens into our Country, and we are doing just that for America’s Seniors,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He said the move proved he was serious about a promised $5,000 “Trump dividend” for every adult citizen if Republicans keep both chambers of Congress. That proposal would cost well over $1 trillion and has not been approved by Congress.