RACHEL SCOTT ASKED THE QUESTION — AND TRUMP DIDN’T LIKE IT
ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott pressed President Donald Trump over his promise to provide $5,000 payments to American adults if Republicans retain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump announced the proposal at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. The plan could cost roughly $1.2 trillion or more, and it would require congressional approval. The administration has not provided a complete financing plan.
On the airport tarmac Thursday, Scott questioned Trump about why Americans would need a financial incentive if his economic policies were working. She also pressed him about earlier proposals for tariff-related payments that were never implemented.
Trump rejected the characterization that the $5,000 payment was intended to influence voters, calling it instead a “reward” for Americans who had endured the previous administration’s policies.
Scott continued asking questions.
Trump then interrupted her, moved toward her and said:
“Not you. Your network, and you, you’re the worst.”
The exchange quickly became one of the most discussed moments surrounding Trump’s $5,000 proposal.
The underlying questions remain significant: How would the payments be funded? Would Congress approve them? And what would the effect be on the federal deficit and inflation?
Reuters reported that the proposal could cost around $1.2 trillion plus interest, while noting that existing tariff revenues would not be sufficient to cover the full cost.
Whatever one’s political views, Scott’s exchange with the president illustrates the role of journalists in pressing public officials for specifics—particularly when the proposal involves more than a trillion dollars in federal spending.
The question was asked. The answers are still being debated.
