President Donald Trump clashed with ABC News reporter Rachel Scott after she questioned him about his proposal to give American adults $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in the midterm elections.
The exchange occurred on Thursday, September 10, after Trump arrived in Dallas, Texas, where he was attending a Republican convention. Scott questioned the president about the proposed payments in light of the United States’ national debt.
“Mr. President, on the checks: The U.S. is still $40 trillion in debt. If your economic policies are working, why do you need an incentive for people to turn out to vote?” she asked. Trump rejected the suggestion that the proposed payments were intended to encourage people to vote Republican, describing them instead as a reward for Americans following the policies of former President Joe Biden’s administration.
“I didn’t do it for turning out the vote, I did it as a reward for people having to put up with five years and four years of a horrible situation caused by Biden,” Trump replied. “You look at the border, you look at the crime…. It’s almost a reward for the people having to put up with Biden’s policies.”
When Scott attempted to ask a follow-up question, saying, “But you also offered checks through—”, Trump interrupted her. “Not you. Not you!” Trump said. “Hey, not you.” He then criticised her network, adding, “Your network … you’re the worst.”
The exchange came after Trump announced that every adult American would receive a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November midterm elections. Trump has maintained that the proposal is intended as a reward for Americans rather than an incentive to vote for Republican candidates.
The president has had previous contentious exchanges with journalists, including Scott. The reports cited earlier confrontations involving CNN reporters Kristen Holmes and Kaitlan Collins, as well as Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey. The proposed $5,000 payments remain a campaign pledge and have not been presented in the supplied report as an authorised or funded federal programme.