President Trump told a rally in Northern Kentucky on Saturday that the Pentagon would put $100 million into a drug manufacturing plant in Winchester, Kentucky, if Republicans win the midterms. He also repeated his promise of $5,000 for every adult American if the GOP keeps Congress. Kentucky’s governor’s office says it has never heard of the plant project, and says that if federal money depends on how people vote, the Justice Department should look into it.
“This is the most important midterm in the history of our country,” Trump told the crowd at Northern Kentucky University’s Truist Arena in Highland Heights. “Pretend I’m on the ballot.” NKU put the official headcount at 2,567 in an arena that holds nearly 10,000, Local 12 reported.
What did Trump promise Kentucky voters?
The biggest one was the Winchester plant. Trump said the Defense Department would invest $100 million to revitalize a pharmaceutical plant outside Lexington if Republicans win, calling it a “big revitalization project.” Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said it had no information about it. “If such investments depend on an election outcome,” spokeswoman Scottie Ellis said, “it’s time for the Department of Justice to investigate the Department of War.”
He also brought back the $5,000 checks. He didn’t say how the government would pay for them, which would cost around $1 trillion, only that the money would have to be spent in the U.S. And he again said the Iran war would end soon, a promise he’s made many times over nearly eight months of fighting, CNBC reported.
Why is Trump campaigning in a state he won by 30 points?
Because the map is tighter than it looks. Rep. Andy Barr is running to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell against Democrat Charles Booker, who said the rally showed Trump had to “prop up” McConnell’s would-be successor. Trump also pushed Ed Gallrein, the former Navy SEAL he backed to beat Rep. Thomas Massie in the House primary. Several of Trump’s midterm stops this fall are in red states he won easily, a sign Republicans are playing defense.
He also praised Ohio Senate candidate Jon Husted, who wasn’t there, and mocked a protester as “paid” while security walked them out.
The BeezLoop Take
Telling voters they get a $100 million federal project if they vote the right way isn’t how government money is supposed to work. Pentagon investments are supposed to be based on what the country needs, not on election results. If the plant is worth funding, fund it. If it isn’t, don’t dangle it.
Add a $1 trillion check promise with no way to pay for it, in the same week Treasury reported a $1.99 trillion deficit, and voters are being asked to buy a lot on faith. Kentucky’s governor is right to ask the question. So should Republicans who say they care about the debt.
The open question: does the Pentagon have any plan for the Winchester plant, and would it happen if Democrats win?
Also on BeezLoop: what happened to Trump’s last two big check promises, and the Social Security increase for 2027.
Sources: Local 12 (WKRC) · CNBC / Associated Press · LiveNOW from FOX (video)
