Donald Trump pledged during a Republican midterm convention in Dallas that the US would pay every adult citizen $5,000 if Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in November’s elections.
Trump made the offer during a nearly two-hour speech, saying he would link the payment to Republican success at the polls. The proposal, which critics say would cost the US more than $1tn, immediately drew ethical questions, but it also underscored the party’s concern about its prospects in a contest in which it is widely predicted to lose the House.
$5,000 Offer for Adult US Citizens
“If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump told a crowd at the convention, which is the first such event the GOP has held.
The president also urged voters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot”, despite his historically low popularity with much of the electorate and an approval rating reported at around 38%. His unpopularity contributed to what was seen as a subdued turnout: several candidates in competitive races reportedly skipped the two-day event.
File photo
Trump said his second term had been “the most successful two years, financially and every other way, in the history of the presidency”, making the claim without providing evidence. Much of his address focused on warning of consequences if Democrats win control of Congress for the final two years of his presidency.
Warnings on Democrats and US Policy
Trump said there was “a crazy little sick cloud over our country” and warned Republicans would “defeat communism in America” if they prevailed. He added that the election outcomes would affect border security, tax cuts and wider public safety.
“The country is going through hell,” Trump said, drawing a parallel with the previous midterm cycle. He also argued the party must break with the tradition that presidents often lose ground in midterm elections, saying Republicans “have something going that’s so good” and should not surrender it.
Iran War, Oil Prices, and Convention Set-Up
Trump devoted several remarks to the conflict with Iran, telling Tehran “not to get cute” or the US “will have to hit them very hard”. He appeared to acknowledge economic strain linked to higher oil prices while recalling how he said he urged advisers to pursue a wider confrontation by warning that Iran was “two, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon”.
The convention’s build-up and scheduling had a chaotic feel. Trump was initially set to speak on the second night, then the Republican National Committee announced he would deliver the keynote on Wednesday, with closing remarks planned for Thursday after vice-president JD Vance speaks.
Inside the convention centre, reporting described middling enthusiasm among regular attendees. Empty seats were visible during Trump’s speech, although he claimed the arena was full and asserted there were additional people standing outside, a claim not observed by journalists present.
Programme Focuses on Politics as Trump Aims for Momentum
The RNC had announced in mid-August that Americans could apply for tickets, suggesting applicants would enter a lottery. Yet during Wednesday’s opening, applications appeared to be accepted immediately on the RNC sign-up page.
Earlier in the first night, Trump backed his party’s candidates and mocked opponents, including Texas senator-in-waiting Ken Paxton, whom he called “the greatest attorney general in America” despite comments about Paxton’s appearance and delivery. He also attacked Democrat James Talarico and Roy Cooper in North Carolina, along with Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee for Michigan.
The Democratic National Committee chair, Ken Martin, said Republicans were staging “a bizarre dog-and-pony show” to manage the president’s “fragile ego”.
The unusual midterm convention runs for 12 hours across two nights, with showmanship prominent. Byron Donalds, Mehmet Oz and Scott Bessent were among those to speak, while Trump was introduced by UFC fighters Bo Nickal and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje, who were given longer speaking time than most presenters.
Gaethje urged voters to stay focused on winning, linking the message to his own career and warning against complacency, saying voters risk losing momentum if they are not “just as passionate about voting and winning” as in the previous presidential election.
Despite the earlier promise that the speakers would focus on “lowering costs, securing our border, making our communities safer” and prioritising workers and families, multiple remarks instead targeted Democrats’ position on transgender rights, shifting towards culture-war themes ahead of November.
Trump is due to speak again on Thursday but said it would be shorter; after telling the crowd on Wednesday he had given them “a lot of material” and urging them once more to “please pretend that I’m running”.
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10 September 2026
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