President Donald Trump concluded a two-day Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday by urging supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot in November, despite record-low approval ratings and an unpopular war in Iran. The convention, held at the American Airlines Center, featured speeches from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with attendees asked to pay for the privilege as part of a Republican National Committee fundraising drive.
Trump leads pledge to vote Republican or 'go to hell'
On the final night, Trump led attendees in a mock pledge of allegiance, asking them to raise their right hands and promise to vote Republican in November. "I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can't even breathe," Trump said, before directing the crowd to repeat: "I will go out with my family, my friends. I'll do it anyway—I don't care if I'm registered or not. I'm going to try to cheat like hell like they do."
Trump concluded the pledge by stating, "So we swear that on November 3rd we are going to go out and vote. And you know what? If you want, you can vote Democrat, but I don't think there's one person in this room that's going to vote [for them]." He later added, "You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell."
Convention highlights GOP's reliance on Trump amid enthusiasm gap
The convention aimed to boost Republican turnout ahead of the midterm elections, where Democrats have shown increased enthusiasm following recent electoral gains. Trump framed the midterms as a referendum on his leadership, stating, "Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Because in a way, I am on the ballot."
However, the event faced criticism over reported empty seats in the upper levels of the arena, which Trump dismissed as "fake news," claiming there were "no empty seats" despite photographic evidence to the contrary. The convention also saw some Republican candidates in tight races skip the event, opting to distance themselves quietly from Trump.
Key takeaways from the Republican midterm convention
- Trump urged supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot, emphasizing the stakes of the midterm elections.
- The convention included a controversial pledge led by Trump, asking attendees to promise to vote Republican.
- Reports indicated sparse attendance in some sections of the arena, which Trump denied.
- The event highlighted the GOP's reliance on Trump to drive turnout amid low approval ratings and an unpopular war in Iran.
- Some Republican candidates in competitive races chose not to attend the convention, reflecting internal party divisions.
The midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, will determine control of Congress, with Democrats seeking to capitalize on Republican struggles to maintain enthusiasm and voter support.