US President Donald Trump has proposed paying every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in the November midterm elections, making the extraordinary pledge during the party’s first-ever national midterm convention in Dallas.
Trump announced the proposed “Trump dividend” during a nearly two-hour prime-time address on Wednesday, urging voters to support Republican candidates in the November 3 elections.
It was not immediately clear how such payments would be funded or whether the proposal would be legally permissible. With roughly 270 million adults in the United States, a $5,000 payment to each would amount to about $1.35 trillion.
Trump puts himself at centre of midterm campaign
The proposal came as Trump placed himself firmly at the centre of the Republican campaign, portraying the election as a choice between his administration and what he called the “radical left Democrats.”
“We hand America’s future to the radical left Democrats,” Trump said, warning that the country could face years of difficulty if Republicans lose control of Congress.
The two-day Dallas convention highlights how closely Republican electoral prospects remain tied to Trump. Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters informally dubbed the gathering “Trumpapalooza,” reflecting the president’s dominant role in the event.
Trump also said he planned to visit battleground states and competitive congressional districts repeatedly in the eight weeks leading up to Election Day.
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” he told supporters.
However, the strategy presents challenges for Republicans in closely contested races. Some candidates may need to distance themselves from Trump to appeal to swing voters while also retaining support among his core political base.
Several Republicans facing competitive races skipped the convention, including Michigan Representative Tom Barrett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and Maine Senator Susan Collins.
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Cost of living and Iran war dominate voter concerns
While Republican speakers largely focused on attacking Democrats over issues including border security and transgender participation in sports, two major voter concerns, the cost of living and the war with Iran, received comparatively less attention.
Trump defended his decision to attack Tehran, saying the US acted to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. He also predicted that oil prices would fall once the US wins the conflict.
Trump later told reporters that he expected the war with Iran to end “immediately after” the midterm elections, arguing that Tehran was trying to influence the vote but could not withstand continued US economic pressure.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, while the conflict has continued for more than six months following US and Israeli strikes.
Republicans warn voters against Democrats
Several Republican speakers repeatedly described Democrats as “socialists” and “communists,” echoing one of Trump’s most frequent attacks against the opposition.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who leads the Republican Senate campaign effort, called Democrats “dangerous, radical and weird.”
The convention also featured a surprise pre-recorded appearance by Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who introduced Republican Senator Dave McCormick as his “great friend” and said he would work with Trump to protect Pennsylvania’s steel industry.
Fetterman has increasingly clashed with the Democratic Party’s left wing but has rejected speculation that he could leave the party.
With the midterms less than two months away, Republicans face the possibility of losing control of at least one chamber of Congress. Public polling cited by Reuters shows Democrats more motivated to vote, while Trump’s approval ratings remain deeply underwater.
The Dallas convention is therefore serving as a major test of whether Trump can mobilise his political base and help Republicans overcome voter concerns about inflation, the Iran war and the broader direction of his administration.
