US President Donald Trump on Thursday promised that the government would grant $5,000 to each American if Republicans keep Congress in the upcoming Midterm elections in November."So if the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000," Trump said, however the US President did not explain where the money would come from.Republicans gathered in Dallas for a highly unusual two-day midterm convention, a first for the party, that will put Trump at the center of this midterm elections.Also read: Trump claims Iran war will end 'immediately' after US midterm electionsThe president took the stage to deliver a keynote address as members of his Cabinet were also expected address the convention. On Meanwhile, Democrats are planning their own counterprogramming.Trump has insisted that running on his record will give the GOP their best shot at winning, even as his own poll numbers look doubtful.In an exchange with reporters before his flight to the convention, he said oil prices that have surged because of the Iran war likely would not come down until after the midterm elections.The convention was part rally and part fundraiser, as Republicans sought to boost enthusiasm heading into the final stretch before Election Day amid voter concerns over the economy and dissatisfaction with the war in Iran. Trump used the platform to cast Democrats as extremists and urged supporters to treat the November vote as though he himself were on the ballot.“If we hand America's future to the radical-left Democrats, our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet,” Trump said. “Vote Republican and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come.”He said there were about 35 key Senate and House races and pledged to campaign extensively in those states, suggesting he could visit some of them repeatedly. However, he also spent a significant part of his address defending the Iran war, acknowledging that the conflict had disrupted an economy that he said had been performing strongly before the fighting began.“We were doing great,” the US President said, explaining that he had nevertheless decided to start the conflict because Iran was perhaps “two, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon.”He also defended his sweeping tariffs on US trade partners, arguing that the resulting economic disruption would ultimately be worthwhile.The president's promise of a $5,000 payment to every adult American was among the highlights of the convention. Trump said the money would have to be spent within the United States and that the proposed payment would be called the “Trump dividend”, but offered no details on how the plan would be funded or implemented.The proposal could cost at least $1 trillion, making it financially and politically difficult to implement. It underscored Trump's attempt to revive Republican prospects as Democrats seek to capitalise on his low approval ratings in several closely contested races.The two-day convention in Dallas marked a departure from traditional political conventions, which are generally held every four years to formally nominate presidential candidates. This week's gathering, however, has been centred overwhelmingly around Trump, with the president scheduled to speak on both nights.Many Republicans skipped the event, while others used the national platform to appeal directly to Trump's supporters in an election year in which he is not on the ballot. The convention is expected to draw roughly 30,000 people across both nights and features more than 100 speakers and segments on issues including tax cuts, fraud allegations, border security and a proposed ban on members of Congress trading stocks.Trump also used his address to endorse Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is facing a difficult Senate race.“He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen,” Trump said of Paxton, adding that “he deserves to be your next senator.”The event also received an unexpected contribution from Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who said in a video message that he would continue to reject “the extremes and socialism” and pledged to work with Trump to defend Pennsylvania's steel industry.Meanwhile, organisers said some Republicans had opted out of attending, with concerns over the high cost of participation. Republican House members were reportedly asked to pay $25,000 for convention tickets and lodging, while packages advertised by a Texas Republican Party organisation ranged from $5,000 to $20,000.Trump's political operation has also begun stepping up spending ahead of the elections. A new group, No Going Back PAC Inc., has reserved $49 million across six competitive Senate races and one competitive House race, according to the New York Times, in addition to the $10 million that MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC, has spent on the Texas Senate contest.(With inputs from AP)