On November 4, 2026, after Republicans lost the 2026 midterm elections, WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield went on X to address the results. He wrote, “Does this mean I don’t get my $5,000 check?” The post comes following President Trump’s alleged promise to give $5,000 to every American adult if the GOP retained control of Congress and the Senate.
Layfield’s tweet was posted a day after the 2026 midterm elections, which saw the Democratic Party win majority control over the House of Representatives and Senate. According to CBS News, the Democrats’ victory came as President Trump’s approval rating hit an alleged historic low at just 38%.
President Trump’s first announced his pledge to give every American adult $5,000 during the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on September 10, 2026. “Because of our tremendous strength and success economocally, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen of the United States of America for $5,000,” said President Trump. “It will be called the Trump dividend.”
WWE has a history of supporting Republican Candidates
John Bradshaw Layfield, better known as ‘JBL’ to WWE fans, made his name portraying a self-made Texas millionaire. His racially charged storylines were controversial among fans, with one 2004 segment showing him patrolling the Texas-Mexico border. Layfield later admitted to taking extra care behind the scenes when portraying a controversial on-screen villain.
Layfield’s fictional character draws on his real-life experience as a stock market investor. In 2003, he wrote the personal finance book Have More Money Now: A Common-Sense Guide to Financial Success and serves as a finance commentator on Fox.
WWE has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Republican Party. Alumni such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Hulk Hogan have attended the Republican National Convention. Co-founder Linda McMahon is the current Secretary of Education, and her son-in-law, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, is a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
On election day, Levesque was seen alongside activists from Turning Point Action at a New Hampshire polling station with former NFL player Rob Gronkowski. In an AOL report, other high-profile athletes like Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather were seen supporting Turning Point Action at other polling stations in the state.
President Trump himself has had a close relationship with the WWE since the late 1980s, when his Atlantic City resorts hosted two consecutive WrestleManias, the company’s flagship annual event. In 2017, he performed at the event during a marquee attraction called ‘The Battle of the Billionaires,’ where he took a ‘Stone Cold Stunner’, the finishing move of Hall of Fame wrestler ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
Published: Nov 5, 2026 05:00 pm