Donald Trump has promised to give $US5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress after the midterm elections.The US president made the pledge during a speech at his party's unusual midterms convention, where he told supporters to "pretend that I am on the ballot" for the elections in November.Republicans have slim majorities in the two chambers of the US Congress, but polls suggest Democrats could take control of both.Mr Trump's payout promise was part of a lengthy address in which he portrayed himself as the saviour of the country and urged voters to "let us finish the job"."If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000," he told the cheering crowd, though he did not say how the money would be paid or where it would come from."It will be called the Trump dividend."The event is being held in Texas, a critical state for the upcoming midterm elections.
(Reuters: Callaghan O'Hare)Mr Trump's address came at the end of a series of hype speeches that pumped up his accomplishments and portrayed Democrats as "crazy", "communist" and "dangerous".Earlier, US Democrat senator John Fetterman joined the pile-on in a surprise video appearance, endorsing a Republican and distancing himself from his party's progressive wing.Mr Fetterman, who has increasingly been seen by his party colleagues as a rogue unit in recent years, called himself a "common-sense Democrat" who would always "reject the extremes and socialism".John Fetterman described himself as a "common-sense Democrat" in a video message at the Republican convention. (Reuters: Brian Snyder)His video was used to introduce fellow Pennsylvania senator Dave McCormick to the stage, who Mr Fetterman described as a friend.It further highlighted the divide between traditional "establishment" or "moderate" Democrats and the ascendant left wing of the party, including New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and prominent Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.Republicans used the first day of the Dallas convention to capitalise on the divide, highlighting and frequently exaggerating the policies and positions of Democratic Socialists and the party in general.Key themes in speeches and videos included transgender participation in sport, crime attributed to unauthorised migrants, and the previous Biden administration's failure to control crossings at the US-Mexico border.There was comparatively little mention of Mr Trump's centrepiece actions on tariffs, the economy and the Middle East. Polls show Mr Trump's approval rating is hovering at historic lows, with many voters angered over cost-of-living hikes and the war in Iran.Mr Trump blamed Democrats for high prices and said the cost of oil would come down "as soon as we win the war with Iran, which is taking place right now".Mr Trump is set to speak on both nights of the two-day event.Party conventions are usually only held in presidential election years, but this one has been staged to rally the Republican base and party donors ahead of the midterms.To win control of Congress, the Democrats would need a net gain of three seats in the House of Representatives and four seats in the Senate.
