Trump urges Republicans to treat him as a ballot candidate at first midterm convention
At a two-day gathering in Dallas, President Donald Trump asked supporters to act as if he were on the November ballot, while Republican leaders promoted a $5,000 per-adult “Trump dividend” and warned of Democratic extremism.
President Donald Trump concluded the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday by asking the roughly 20,000 attendees to "pretend I’m on the ticket" for the November elections. He framed the request as a favor to the party and urged the crowd to raise their right hands in a pledge of support.
During the closing remarks, Trump reiterated a promise to provide a $5,000 payment to every U.S. adult if Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress, a proposal Democrats have called a bribe and economists have estimated would cost over $1 trillion.
Republican speakers, including Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Ted Cruz and House Speaker Mike Johnson, used the event to contrast their agenda with what they described as Democratic radicalism, invoking themes of communism, Islamism and “red-green alliances.” JD Vance, the party’s vice-presidential nominee, delivered a keynote speech accusing Democrats of hatred toward America.
The convention featured more than 50 speakers over two nights, with performances such as an operatic rendition of "America the Beautiful" and a tribute to the September 11 attacks. Organizers said the gathering was intended to energize the party’s base ahead of a midterm election cycle in which polls show Republicans trailing in both the House and the Senate.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia criticized the event, saying it was a self-celebration for Trump and donors while ordinary Americans face rising costs for groceries, rent and gas.