President Trump closed the first night of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas with a stunning pledge: a $5,000 cash payment to every American adult if the party keeps control of the House and Senate in November’s midterms.
“If the Republicans win, you win with us,” Trump said to applause. “And it will be called the ‘Trump dividend’. Congratulations. Now all we have to do is win.”
He acknowledged the odds are not in his party’s favor. “We might not win,” Trump admitted.
A $1 Trillion Promise
More than $1 trillion would be required to fund the proposed dividend, and paying people to win their votes creates legal difficulties. It is against the law to pay or accept payment in exchange for influencing voting.
The address lasted an hour and 44 minutes, well beyond its allotted time. Inside that extended period, he defended the Iran war, attacked Democrats as communists and extremists, and took aim at the fashion sense of one Republican Senate candidate.
“Please pretend that I’m running,” he said. “If we don’t have the majorities, so much can be lost.”
Closing Remarks and a Shorter Encore
Thursday night’s speech will close the event, with Trump delivering remarks. He has suggested the encore will be shorter than expected.
“But I’m not doing a big deal like this,” he joked. “I gave you a lot of material. I don’t have to do it twice.”
He will share the final hour with Vice President Vance.
One year after his death, the program pays tribute to the late Republican activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, which falls on Friday.
Karoline Leavitt, who served as White House Press Secretary, is among those scheduled to address the crowd, alongside Donald Trump Jr. and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., both MAGA celebrities and cabinet members.
Empty Seats, Full Agenda
Trump cooked up the two-night spectacle with the aim of firing up his supporters before the midterms.
“It took a little imagination to think of it,” Trump said of the first-ever Republican midterm convention.
Trump rallied the party faithful before an arena where whole sections sat empty.
“The midterms are not supposed to be won by [the party of] the sitting president, and we’re going to change that,” Trump said, promising to visit the states and districts of every Republican facing a close race.
Throughout the convention, a number of Republicans in competitive House and Senate races will give brief stump speeches. Several have employed the platform to portray Democrats as allied with “socialism” and “communism.”, 19.
Paxton’s Ask in Texas
Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General who is running for the US Senate, made those points during his speech and asked for assistance.
“I need your prayers, your vote and your support,” Paxton said. “If we lose Texas, we lose the common sense revolution. If we lose the common sense revolution, we lose America.”
State Rep. James Talarico, who is running against him as a Democrat, has an edge when it comes to campaign funds. However, Trump’s Super PAC, MAGA Inc., has pledged to put up $10 million behind Paxton while also going after Talarico.
Texas is a state where a Republican should never find themselves locked in a close contest, yet Paxton has faced trouble on both fronts, weighed down by scandal and thin funding alike.
The president encouraged Texans to cast ballots for Paxton, even while acknowledging what he considers the candidate’s shortcomings.
“Some may not like the way he dresses. I don’t,” Trump said as part of a lengthy and lighthearted critique of the man he endorsed.
Trump’s Admission
Trump admitted Republicans might not win. That is a big “if.” Republicans are facing significant political headwinds.
2028 and Beyond
When Republicans convene again at their next convention in 2028, Donald Trump will no longer be the focus of the party’s attention. A new nominee will emerge as the de facto leader of the party, laying out a path forward for Republicans.
Wednesday opened with a lineup of Republican lawmakers, candidates and everyday Americans praising the president and his policies, and the convention’s focus on Trump was clear from the very beginning. That praise set the stage for his headlining speech.
Trump’s promise of a $5,000 dividend comes with that big “if.”
Source: npr.org
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