Trump makes stunning first-of-its-kind cash promise in bid to rally GOP voters at Dallas midterm convention
DALLAS – President Donald Trump delivered the keynote address on the opening day of the Republican Party’s first midterm convention, weaving together a review of his administration’s achievements with an aggressive push for Republican control of Congress. In a speech that blended self‑praise, policy highlights, and sharp attacks on Democrats, Trump unveiled an unprecedented pledge: if Republicans retain majorities in both the House and the Senate, every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 cash payment—dubbed the “Trump dividend.”
Trump opened by handing himself a grade for his time in office, saying he was “doing a great job.” He then acknowledged the historical difficulty incumbents face in midterm elections, asking supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” and rally behind Republican candidates. “We have something going that’s so good we can’t let that string be broken,” he told the crowd, emphasizing the economic and security gains his administration had produced.
The economic argument formed a centerpiece of the address. Trump highlighted tax legislation that, he said, put “thousands of dollars into the pockets of working families,” pointing specifically to the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits for seniors. He warned that a loss for Republicans would jeopardize those benefits, adding, “If we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security, you’re going to lose your wealth.”
Border security featured prominently as well. Trump noted that his administration had recorded 15 consecutive months without any border releases and that apprehensions had dropped by 94 percent. He claimed that zero illegal immigrants had entered Texas in the past 16 months, contrasting that with a past in which “people were running rampant, killing people, destroying many houses and farms.” The president framed these numbers as evidence of his administration’s effectiveness.
International developments also drew mention. Trump touted the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and what he described as the “biggest oil deal” in U.S. history, asserting that “65 billion barrels are ours… you know what they say it is lifetime 500 years.” He also defended military action in Iran, acknowledging criticism over rising gas prices while maintaining that the move was necessary because Iran was “one month away from securing a nuclear weapon.” Inflation, he noted, had risen from 2.4 percent to 3.4 percent since the conflict began in February.
The speech turned sharply toward the electoral map. Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s high‑profile Senate race against Democrat James Talarico, praising Paxton’s handling of border issues. He also singled out Democratic Senate candidates Abdul El‑Sayed in Michigan and former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, labeling them as part of an “extreme and dangerous group of candidates” that, in his view, threatened the nation.
Trump’s critique extended to the broader Democratic Party, accusing it of nominating “radical left communists” and referencing the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) policy proposals, which he claimed included abolishing prisons, ICE, Border Patrol, the U.S. Senate, and the presidency. “They call themselves Democrat socialists. But actually they’re communists,” he said. The rhetoric resonated with some attendees; one RNC participant told reporters that tariffs were “bringing a lot of money back” and would “improve everything across the board.” Another listener, Jacquez Jones of Texas, expressed hope that a resolution to the Iran conflict would unleash the full impact of Trump’s economic policies.
Later in the address, Trump shifted to a unifying message, warning that “the pundits, the fake news media and the radical left communists will say anything they can to try and stop us.” He urged supporters to remain united, declaring, “In this election, all that matters is that we are together, and what we say counts.”
The convention’s first day concluded with Trump’s promise remaining the most memorable element of the speech—a $5,000 cash distribution to every adult American if Republicans hold both chambers of Congress. The proposal, tied to his broader narrative of economic success and national security, set the tone for an intense final stretch of the midterm campaign, as Republicans seek to preserve their legislative footholds ahead of November’s general election.