Trump-Deranged ABC Parrots Dems, Knocks Trump’s $5K ‘Dividend’

Jorge Bonilla
September 10th, 2026 11:53 PM

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As expected, the Elitist Media Evening News universally panned President Trump’s proposed $5,000 dividend payout to American adults. However, ABC distinguished themselves for their hysterical “reporting” on the proposed stimulus.

Watch as anchor David Muir and Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce frontload the report with regurgitated Democrat talking points:

 

 

DAVID MUIR: We begin tonight with President Trump's $5,000 promise, a check for every American adult if Republicans win the midterm elections. Tonight, Democrats calling it a desperate stunt, accusing him of trying to bribe voters. And Fox News asking the president why not just give out the checks now? ABC's Mary Bruce leading us off tonight.

MARY BRUCE: Tonight, Democrats warning voters, “don't be fooled,” calling President Trump's new pledge to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans win the midterms “nothing but a stunt.”

DONALD TRUMP: If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000.

BRUCE: He did not say how he would come up with the roughly $1.3 trillion he'd need to pay every American, or how that would even work. And no mention of how it would balloon the record high national debt, which just hit a historic $40 trillion. 

Bruce then proceeds to bolster her regurgitated Democrat talking points with soundbites from two elected Democrats. The only elected Republicans spotlighted are those skeptical with the plan. This is what passes for “reporting” at Disney-ABC.

So focused was ABC on comically performing resistance to Trump’s proposal (and to Trump, more broadly) that the newscast completely omitted any mention of both the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and Senator John Fetterman’s address to the Republican Midterm Convention. 

CBS’s coverage of the convention echoed similar themes and some of the same Democrats. Most notably, CBS mentioned Fetterman’s address, and was the only evening newscast that mentioned the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination:

 

 

ED O’KEEFE: Tonight, this convention also marking one year since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, someone who inspired many of today's GOP leaders and candidates. Tony? 

As I often say here: CBS won just by showing up. Theirs was a brief, pro forma mention of Kirl- but a mention nonetheless.

NBC’s coverage mirrored that of CBS in that it was similar to ABC’s but far less unhinged. Congressional Correspondent Ryan Nobles went pretty far down the thesaurus and came up with “provocative” in order to describe the stimulus proposal:

 

 

RYAN NOBLES: Tonight, President Trump defending his provocative new plan. With Republicans facing headwinds going into the midterms, he's pledging to give every American adult a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate. 

Nobles closed out by acknowledging Fetterman, and by whining about the length of President Trump’s speech. 

The Elitist Media universally panned President Trump’s campaign promise to the American people. ABC, the most Trump-deranged of the broadcast network newscasts, did so with performative hysteria so over the top it played like genius satire. We might be inclined to call it comedy but, unfortunately, this is the evening news.

Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective network newscasts on Thursday, September 10th, 2026:

ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT

9/10/26

6:32 PM

DAVID MUIR: We begin tonight with President Trump's $5,000 promise, a check for every American adult if Republicans win the midterm elections. Tonight, Democrats calling it a desperate stunt, accusing him of trying to bribe voters. And Fox News asking the president why not just give out the checks now? ABC's Mary Bruce leading us off tonight.

MARY BRUCE: Tonight, Democrats warning voters, “don't be fooled,” calling President Trump's new pledge to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans win the midterms “nothing but a stunt.”

DONALD TRUMP: If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000.

BRUCE: He did not say how he would come up with the roughly $1.3 trillion he'd need to pay every American, or how that would even work. And no mention of how it would balloon the record high national debt, which just hit a historic $40 trillion. Democrats, blunt. California Senator Alex Padilla saying “Our tax dollars aren't a campaign slush fund and bribing Americans for their vote is illegal.” Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia noting “Time and time again, Trump has told Americans to expect dividend checks that never came.” He says this offer is no different.

ROBERT GARCÍA: The dividend is not happening. He promised a dividend on tariffs. That didn't happen. He promised a dividend on DOGE. That didn't happen. There's no one in the country that thinks somehow this new dividend is actually going to happen.

BRUCE: And as Democrats accused Trump of trying to bribe voters by promising free money they'll never get, Fox News asking why he doesn't just give out the money now?

LAURA INGRAHAM: Why not just give the money now? If you have the money, why not give it now?

DONALD TRUMP: Because they can't- I'll tell you what, because the Democrats can't do it.

BRUCE: But it's Republicans who now control the House and Senate. And today, Senate Majority Leader John Thune sounding skeptical the president's plan will go anywhere.

DANA PERINO: Would you have enough votes to pass a $5,000 dividend to every American?

JOHN THUNE: Well, that's a good question, Dana, and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

BRUCE: And, David, President Trump is set to speak here again tonight. In the meantime, one Republican senator who is in the political fight of her life is coming out against his proposed $5,000 checks. Susan Collins of Maine calling the idea extraordinarily costly, adding, quote, “Tax and spending decisions should not appear to be tied to election results.” David.

MUIR: Mary Bruce leading us off from Dallas tonight. Mary, thank you.

CBS EVENING NEWS

9/10/26

6:31 PM

TONY DOKOUPIL: And good evening. The first-ever Republican Midterm Convention continues tonight in Dallas, where President Trump promised that $5000 payment to every American if Republicans keep control of Congress. Of course he's promised payouts before without following through, including $5000 a person in savings from his DOGE program and $2000 payments in revenue from tariffs. Will this time be different? Ed O’Keefe is at the convention in Dallas with more on the politics of all these promises. Ed, good evening to you. How is it all landing?

ED O’KEEFE: Tony, this president's campaign promise of a payout comes amid his falling polling numbers caused in part by rising gas prices. Diesel hit $6 a gallon today. This promise deemed so risky by some party leaders here, they tell us they don't plan to campaign on it back home. With the control of Congress at stake, President Trump is essentially promising a cash reward if the GOP holds on. And that $5000 dividend every American adult would likely cost more than $1.2 trillion dollars. Today, he shared details with CBS News Texas.

DONALD TRUMP: We think it's something that would be good. We do have oh, one proviso. And  that’s that the money be spent- people spend their money in the United States.

O’KEEFE: It's illegal to pay someone to vote, and Democrats today slammed the move as a gimmick.

ROBERT GARCÍA: There's no one in the country that thinks somehow this new dividend is actually going to happen. What the American people want is the president to actually focus on lowering their costs of gas, groceries, and expand health care.

O’KEEFE: We asked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise about Trump's previous promises to send payouts to Americans that haven't panned out.

STEVE SCALISE: So we are in the very first stages when the president throws out an idea. Then it's up to us in Congress to make the numbers work to get the details right.

O’KEEFE: The other big surprise here came courtesy of a Democrat.

JOHN FETTERMAN: Yes. I'm Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Yes I'm a Democrat.

O’KEEFE: Fetterman thanked Republicans for working with him and took a jab at progressive Democrats.

FETTERMAN: I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.

O’KEEFE: Tonight in Dallas it's Vice President JD Vance's turn in the spotlight, a big moment as he gears up for his own potential presidential run. But some in this crowd say they'll only take cues on 2028 from Trump. 

Is Vance your guy in 2028?

CONVENTION ATTENDEE: My guy is who Donald Trump endorses.

O’KEEFE: Mmmmmmm. So it's up to him to tell you?

CONVENTION ATTENDEE: That's exactly right.

O’KEEFE: Tonight, this convention also marking one year since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, someone who inspired many of today's GOP leaders and candidates. Tony?

DOKOUPIL: You know Ed, the convention there cost roughly $40 million. We understand and it's the first time as I mentioned that Republicans have ever had this kind of convention. Will it be effective?

O’KEEFE: Well, look, Tony. If you're someone who's not a fan of President Trump and the Republican Party, this convention isn't for you. It's for your neighbors, your relatives, your friends, your coworkers who may be independent voters or Republicans who only vote in presidential elections every four years. With the economic headwinds the president and his party facing, they’re hoping those voters will be inspired to show up in 54 days. Tony.

DOKOUPIL: Ed, thank you very much.

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS

9/10/26

6:32 PM

TOM LLAMAS: And good evening. We thank you for joining us on this Thursday night. We want to begin with new questions about President Trump's pledge to give every American adult a $5,000 check if Republicans win the House and Senate. The president announcing that plan at the Republicans’ Midterm Convention, saying it will be called the “Trump Dividend.” The plan would cost the U.S. more than $1 trillion. Democrats are already blasting the move as a stunt. The president has floated some similar payments in the past, but not all have material- materialized. We have new reporting tonight on how realistic these payments are, and we pressed key Republicans on whether Congress would even pass it. The Republican Convention back in session tonight as the GOP faces several big challenges heading into election season, including the war in Iran and inflation. Our Ryan Nobles is in Dallas at the convention. He starts us off.

RYAN NOBLES: Tonight, President Trump defending his provocative new plan. With Republicans facing headwinds going into the midterms, he's pledging to give every American adult a $5,000 check if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate.

DONALD TRUMP: If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump Dividend.

NOBLES: The plan would cost over $1 trillion. The president suggesting it would come from tariff revenue. But that still would not be enough.

LAURA INGRAHAM: If you have the money, why not give it now?

TRUMP: Because they can't- I'll tell you what, because the Democrats can't do it. Because with them, it's negative growth. With u- with us, it's so positive.

NOBLES: Democrats already hammering the proposal, calling it an unrealistic election year stunt.

ROBERT GARCÍA: This is the- the biggest liar to ever serve in government, period. And look, the dividend is not happening.

NOBLES: President Trump earlier gave $1776 to members of the military, but other promised rebates never materialized. Congress would have to pass the new plan. We pressed a top House Republican. Is that realistic?

TOM EMMER: I- Well, we'll have to wait and see. (VIDEO SWIPE) He wants the American public to share in the great success that this country is having. 

NOBLES: All of this as the president rallied Republicans at their midterm convention.

TRUMP: So I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot. (VIDEO SWIPE) Because if we lose, you're going to lose your border. You're going to lose your tax cuts. You're going to lose your safety and security.

NOBLES: And in a surprise, Democratic Senator John Fetterman appearing on video blasting his own party.

JOHN FETTERMAN: I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism.

LLAMAS: Ryan joins us now live there in Dallas from the convention. Ryan, one high profile Republican senator is now criticizing this $5,000 payment proposal.

NOBLES: Yeah, that's right, Tom. And it comes after President Trump is now suggesting he could make this dividend a reality without Congress. Maine Senate Republican Susan Collins, who is locked in a tight race, is questioning how much this dividend would cost and who would be eligible for it. Meanwhile, President Trump set to speak again tonight. Last night, he was scheduled to speak for only 30 minutes. He spoke for nearly two hours. Tom.LLAMAS: Ryan Nobles leading us off tonight.

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