‘I’m on the ticket’: Trump implores Republicans to vote in November at unusual midterm convention | Donald Trump
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-09-10 23:24:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Urges Supporters to “Pretend” He’s on the Ballot, Calls for “Cheat Like Hell” Tactics at GOP Convention
Donald Trump closed the Republicans’ first ever midterm convention in Dallas by urging his supporters to do him “the biggest favour” and “pretend” they are voting for him in the upcoming November elections. Facing mounting criticism over rising prices and the war in Iran, Trump’s plea came as opinion polls indicated Republicans were likely to lose control of the US House of Representatives and possibly the Senate—developments that could severely limit his power for the remainder of his term.
In a striking moment, Trump directed a crowd of about 20,000 to raise their right hands and repeat: “I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends, I’ll do it any way – I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try to cheat like hell like they do.” This improvised pledge, encouraging supporters to “cheat like hell,” has drawn immediate criticism and raised concerns about undermining election integrity.
Trump also reiterated his controversial promise of a “Trump dividend” of $5,000 for every US adult if Republicans win both chambers of Congress. The proposal has been dismissed by Democrats as a bribe, and economists have warned that it would cost more than $1 trillion, casting doubt on its feasibility.
Throughout the convention, Trump continued to draw sharp contrasts between his self-proclaimed accomplishments and what he described as threats posed by Democrats. He claimed, “Less than two years ago, the American people gave us a mandate to save America – and in 19 months, I’ve delivered on every single promise I made.” He went on to make exaggerated claims about the state of the country before his presidency, stating, “They gave us wide open borders with 25 million people pouring in from all over the globe. They turned our cities into scenes of death and misery, murder, poverty and destruction, and made America a laughingstock all over world. But we took that dark age of America and turned it into the golden age of America.”
Fact-checkers and critics have pointed out that Trump’s statements about “25 million people pouring in” and cities being “scenes of death and misery” are significant exaggerations not supported by available data. His assertion of delivering on “every single promise” has also been widely disputed.
Trump further suggested that the reduction of prescription drug prices “should get us a big victory in our midterms,” touting it as a major achievement, though the overall impact and scope of such reductions remain contested.
The event, which resembled a Trump rally more than a traditional party meeting, was marked by a combative tone and repeated attacks on Democrats, whom Trump and other speakers branded as extremists and communists.
Conclusion
Trump’s closing message at the Dallas convention was marked by hyperbole, unsubstantiated claims, and an unprecedented call for supporters to “cheat like hell.” As the Republican party faces tough electoral prospects, Trump’s rhetoric continues to draw sharp criticism for its divisive and misleading nature, raising questions about the integrity of the upcoming elections and the future direction of the party.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/11/donald-trump-republican-midterm-convention