Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress, using the opening night of the party’s first midterm convention in Dallas to rally supporters ahead of November’s elections.
“If the Republicans win the Senate and House, because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” the president told the audience at the American Airlines Centre on Wednesday night.
Trump said the payment would be known as the “Trump dividend” and suggested recipients would have to spend the money in the United States. He did not explain how the scheme would be funded or whether Congress would need to authorise it.
The two-day Republican gathering, which runs from September 9 to 10, is the first midterm convention organised by the party. It has been designed as a high-profile platform for Trump to promote his record, energise Republican voters and support candidates before the November 3 elections.
Trump also used the speech to campaign for Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican candidate for the US Senate. Paxton is facing James Talarico, a Democratic state representative, in a closely watched race that could threaten the Republicans’ long-standing dominance in Texas.
While endorsing Paxton, Trump made an unusual reference to his appearance, saying: “He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen.” He nevertheless insisted that Paxton “deserves to be your next senator”.
The president separately attacked Talarico, describing him in disparaging terms as he sought to frame the contest as part of a wider struggle between Republicans and what he called extreme Democrats.
Paxton told delegates that Talarico’s policies on issues including gender and the oil and gas industry represented a threat to Texas. Talarico has rejected attacks from his opponent, including claims made in a Republican advertisement that he says used artificial intelligence to put words in his mouth.
Republican speakers presented the 2026 election as a choice between their “common sense” agenda and what they characterised as Democratic extremism. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer described the contest as one between “common sense and communism”.
The event also featured a surprise video appearance by Pennsylvania Democratic senator John Fetterman, who said he rejected “the extremes in socialism” and would work with Trump to defend the state’s steel industry. Fetterman later said he remained a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with his party.
Vice-president JD Vance and more than 100 other speakers are scheduled to appear during the convention. The gathering has brought heightened security and road closures to the area around the American Airlines Centre, with Dallas officials expecting security costs of nearly $2 million.
