Trump's populist promises may hurt Republicans in midterms, says analyst

US President Donald Trump is promising every American adult $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress. Professor Natasha Lindstaedt of the University of Essex told Al Jazeera the promise is “completely outrageous” and would cost $1 trillion, making it “not even doable”. She said Trump supporters “take him very seriously, but they don’t take him literally”, and that the promise is designed to attract attention rather than necessarily be delivered. Lindstaedt said Trump is trying to distract from his low approval ratings, which average about 38 per cent, with some polls showing 33 per cent, and from growing concerns over the economy. She noted that 66 per cent of Americans think the economy is going in the wrong direction, while 69 per cent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis and only 17 per cent approve. On whether Trump remains an electoral asset, Lindstaedt said some Republicans in tight races see him as a drag, while Trump-aligned candidates “haven’t tended to do so well” in midterm elections. She described Trump’s attacks on Democrats as “radicals and socialists” as “a bit like a Hail Mary”, saying he appears to be trying to mobilise his base and appeal to traditional conservatives. But Lindstaedt said she is “not sure if it’s going to work given how poorly he’s managing the economy”. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #USPolitics #Republicans #DonaldTrump #MidtermElections2026 #GOP #USCongress #TexasPolitics #Trump #US2026 #Dallas #RepublicanNationalMidtermConvention