President Trump used the opening night of the Republican National Committee's midterm convention in Dallas to press his party to treat the upcoming elections as a referendum on his presidency. In a nearly two-hour address, he implored Republicans to "pretend" his name is on the ballot, a rhetorical device he has deployed in recent weeks as the party faces steep headwinds.
"I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot," Trump said in his keynote. "Just one more time, because 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."
The president's plea comes as Republicans wrestle with historical midterm losses, his own sinking approval ratings, and the fallout from the Iran war. He framed the challenge as an opportunity, saying, "The midterms are not supposed to be won by the sitting president, and we're going to change that."
In an effort to boost turnout, Trump promised a "Trump dividend" of $5,000 for every U.S. adult if the GOP holds onto its slim House and Senate majorities. He suggested the government could fund the payments "because we've done so well and because our country is making so much money," though he offered no legal or fiscal details. He added that the payments could only be spent domestically.
Trump's speech also touched on his signature trade policies, calling tariffs a favorite word—now only fifth on his list. He touted "trillions of dollars in tariff revenue" and "record investments" from foreign countries. He reiterated his commitment to campaign in battleground states, saying, "We can win every one of those races, but I'm going to go to every one of those states for congressmen and for senators."
On Iran, Trump warned Tehran "not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard." He acknowledged public unease with the war, but defended his decision, claiming Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. He predicted oil prices would drop after the conflict ends—which he said would be "very shortly after the election."
The president also drew cheers for his executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz to the "Trump Strait." He joked about his habit of "the weave," jumping between topics, but assured the crowd he always returns to the main point.
Trump's remarks in Dallas come as GOP leaders have ramped up attacks on Democrats, and as he has signaled the Iran conflict will wrap up after the elections. His $5,000 dividend promise has drawn both interest and skepticism, with legal questions likely to surface if the GOP retains control.
