Trump promises some seniors 'nearly $100' check in late-night election statement

Five weeks before the midterms, President Donald Trump says his administration will start sending small checks to millions of seniors.

In a Truth Social post on Friday night, Trump said the administration will "immediately, begin sending 'Checks' of nearly $100 to over 20 MILLION wonderful Seniors to help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums."

He said the money will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he called "a pointless 'Slush Fund' that has only been used by Dumocrats in Congress to pay for the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse for their Special Interest friends."

Congress created the fund in 2008 to pay for improvements to the traditional Medicare program. Lawmakers from both parties have since tapped it to help pay for other spending.

Trump also claimed that Part B premiums have "already" been "reduced by significant amounts." He didn't explain how many of Medicare's roughly 68 million beneficiaries would qualify, or when the checks would arrive.

He said the payments are separate from refund checks his administration is sending to "One Million Americans who were overcharged" for Affordable Care Act plans.

Trump then tied the announcement to November.

"Because I delivered on this very important issue for the American People, they can also rest assured the highly popular $5,000 Trump Dividend will be distributed to every U.S. Citizen if, and when, the Republicans win the Midterm Elections!" he wrote.