Trump offers US$5,000 midterm payout amid Iran war concerns
Trump offers an election dividend while analysts warn his Iran campaign risks becoming another prolonged US conflict without a clear exit.
US President Donald Trump promised every American adult US$5,000 if Republicans retain Congress in the November 3 elections, speaking at the party’s Dallas convention on Wednesday (September 9).
The proposed payments would cost about US$1.35 trillion. How they would operate, and their legality, remained unclear.
Several Republicans facing difficult races skipped the gathering, as the party seeks to mobilise supporters despite dissatisfaction over living costs and the war.
Meanwhile, analysts cited by Reuters warned that the six-month Iran campaign could become another “forever war”, drawing parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan as the September 11 attacks’ 25th anniversary approaches.
Unlike those conflicts, Washington relies mainly on air and naval forces. Disrupted Hormuz shipping has raised US petrol prices, while a clear exit remains elusive.
The administration rejects the comparison. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly maintained that Trump had achieved all his objectives.
Source Reuters
