US President Donald Trump kicked off the Republican Party’s midterm campaign season in Dallas on Wednesday night, headlining the opening of a highly unusual convention aimed at rallying voters ahead of November’s high-stakes battle for control of Congress.
“This has been the most successful two years financially and every other way in the history of the presidency,” he said, as the crowd chanted “USA! USA!”
In the almost two-hour-long speech, Trump also made a bold promise to give every adult $5,000 if Republicans win the midterm elections, calling it a “Trump dividend”. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.
“So it’s $5,000 to every adult,” he said. “The only caveat I have is that the dividend that we’re making must be spent in the United States of America.”
Unlike quadrennial conventions that formally nominate presidential candidates, the two-day gathering – dubbed a “Trump-a-palooza” by Republicans – has no nominating business. Instead, it is focused on showcasing Trump’s second term record and promoting candidates.
Trump’s speech, at 8pm local time, focused largely on domestic issues but he also spent considerable time discussing tariffs and the trade war, the Iran war and his immigration policies.