The latest cash pledge adds to the US president’s growing list of pre-election incentives as Republicans fight to keep Congress
US President Donald Trump has offered a $1 million reward for reporting voter fraud in past elections or the upcoming November 3 midterms, provided the tip leads to an arrest and conviction.
Trump announced the offer on Truth Social on Monday, repeating it to reporters ahead of a rally in Corinth, Mississippi.
“Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!” he wrote.
Trump did not say where the money would come from, who would distribute it, or how to report suspected fraud. The White House did not immediately respond to media requests for clarification.
.@POTUS: “I’m also going to be issuing a million dollar bonus or reward or whatever you want to call it for anybody that reports voter fraud, leading to the arrest and conviction of somebody.” https://t.co/yLODH4eb0kpic.twitter.com/LZyED3wnyS
The promise sparked legal questions online, with critics pointing out that Trump cannot simply hand out taxpayer money without congressional approval. Some joked the scheme could end up costing more than the Pentagon’s budget.
“If I do voter fraud and then report myself am I eligible for the 1 million dollars?” one user quipped.
“I’m forcing my partner to vote twice so I can report the transgression and get the money. What an opportunity!” another wrote.
Trump has long alleged widespread election fraud, notably refusing to accept his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden and repeatedly calling the vote “rigged” and “stolen.”
He and his supporters filed more than 60 lawsuits challenging the results, virtually all dismissed or rejected for lack of evidence – including by Trump-appointed judges. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency found no evidence of fraud capable of changing the outcome, while Trump’s own attorney general at the time, William Barr, publicly rejected his claims.
The million-dollar bounty adds to Trump’s growing list of cash incentives ahead of the midterms, as Republicans fight to keep Congress. The biggest carrot so far was his proposed $5,000 ‘Trump Dividend’ for every American adult citizen if Republicans retain both chambers. Announced at a Republican gathering in Dallas last month, the giveaway would cost roughly $1.3 trillion for an estimated 260 million adults, drawing bipartisan criticism. Trump has suggested congressional approval might not be necessary, although lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, and policy analysts say such a massive payout would require legislation and congressional funding.
Trump has also cheered a separate multibillion-dollar giveaway by ally Elon Musk, who promised every US child a share of SpaceX next year. The pledge followed Musk’s renewed backing of Trump and the Republicans after their public feud last year over the president’s spending legislation. According to the New York Times, Musk has donated more than $276 million to Republican groups since July, bringing his 2025-2026 election-cycle contributions to roughly $366 million.
The cash promises come as Trump’s ratings sink amid frustration over the prolonged Iran conflict, gasoline topping $6 a gallon, and persistent inflation despite his pledges to cut living costs, while Republicans face increasingly grim midterm prospects. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last week put his approval at 31% – the lowest of either presidential term – with Democrats leading Republicans 47% to 35% among registered voters on a hypothetical congressional ballot. A separate New York Times/Siena University poll put Trump’s approval at a record-low 36% among likely voters, with Democrats ahead by 11 points in congressional races, 52% to 41%.
Republicans currently hold a slim 218-214 House majority and a 53-47 Senate advantage. However, polls indicate they face unexpectedly tight Senate races in Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Alaska, and Ohio – all states Trump comfortably carried in 2024. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in both the House and Senate to take control.
