DALLAS: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would pay every American adult a $5,000 "Trump dividend" if Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm election, an extraordinary attempt to persuade voters to back his party. Trump made the proposal at his Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention, but it was not immediately clear how the payments would work or whether they would be legal. With approximately 270 million US adults, the idea would cost around $1.35 trillion.
During a primetime address that lasted an hour and 45 minutes, Trump boasted of completing "the greatest two years in the history of the presidency," putting himself squarely at the centre of the election despite his deepening unpopularity. But it was not clear whether his campaign-style speech would appeal to the critical swing voters who opinion polls show have drifted away from Trump's party, amid growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the war on Iran. "We hand America's future to the radical left Democrats, and our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet," he said.
The two-day Dallas gathering, where Trump will also deliver the closing remarks on Thursday after Vice President JD Vance's keynote address, underscores the extent to which Republicans' fortunes are tethered to Trump and serves as a showcase for their strategy ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The event was so centred on the president that Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters informally dubbed it "Trumpapalooza," a nod to the popular Lollapalooza music festival. The focus on Trump amounts to a risky bet that he can mobilize the voters who carried him to the presidency two years ago.
The convention presented a tough choice in particular for Republicans facing difficult elections who may need to distance themselves from the president to broaden their appeal but cannot afford to alienate Trump's most committed supporters. Many such Republicans skipped the convention, including Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan, Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine. At least 16 candidates in competitive House and Senate races were scheduled to speak, according to the RNC schedule.