Trump Announces Payments of More Than $100 for Over 20 Million Medicare Beneficiaries

Speaking at a Republican campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, Trump said the payments would begin the following day and would cover more than 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in Texas.

Trump claimed his administration had identified billions of dollars originally earmarked for Medicare improvements but not spent.

"Tonight I have more breaking news. Our administration has also located billions and billions of dollars that were supposed to be spent on improving Medicare, which it didn't get improved," Trump told supporters.

He alleged that the previous administration kept the funds from being used to present a more favourable financial picture, and said the money would now be returned to senior citizens.

Trump said more than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries would receive checks or direct deposits of more than $100 each, beginning the next day.

He did not provide details on the total amount of funding involved, the eligibility requirements or the mechanism through which the payments would be distributed.

Trump presented the Medicare payments as part of a broader effort to return money to American households. He also promised a $5,000 payment to every adult US citizen if Republicans retained control of both chambers of Congress in the November elections.

At a separate White House event, Trump was asked whether the financial measures, including the payments to seniors and proposed $5,000 dividend, were intended to influence voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump defended the announcements, attributing the ability to provide such payments to economic growth and revenue generated through tariffs.

The President did not provide additional documentation during the event to substantiate his claims about alleged unused Medicare funds or the source of the proposed payments.