Donald Trump closed the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas by urging supporters to treat November’s election as a personal vote of confidence in him and pledge their allegiance to his political movement.
The president, whose name will not appear on the ballot, told Republicans to vote as though he were running for office himself. He used the first-ever Republican midterm convention to place his leadership at the centre of the party’s campaign to retain control of Congress.
“Please pretend that I’m running, and get out and vote on November 3 or sooner,” Mr Trump told the convention, according to a transcript of his remarks.
He also pledged to campaign aggressively for Republican candidates in the midterm elections, which will decide control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Mr Trump offered an additional incentive to voters, promising that every American adult would receive a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain both chambers of Congress. He did not explain how the proposed “Trump dividend” would be funded or require approval by Congress.
The two-day gathering at the American Airlines Center was organised to generate the energy and attention usually associated with a presidential election convention. The Republican National Committee described it as the first national midterm convention in the party’s history.
Vice-President JD Vance also addressed delegates, warning that the country could be handed to “the radicals” if Democrats regained control of Congress in November.
Trump’s closing appearance underlined his continuing dominance of the Republican Party, even as candidates in competitive races face pressure to respond to concerns over the economy, rising prices and the administration’s policy on Iran.
