Read the Voting Pledge Trump Led at RNC Convention - Newsweek
President Donald Trump led attendees at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in a pledge to vote in the November elections, at one point asking them to repeat that they would "try to cheat like hell like they do."
The president made the remarks during his headline address on the second and final night of the GOP convention in Dallas, repeatedly urging his supporters to turn out as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress.
Trump also asked supporters to approach the midterms as though he were running, telling them: "I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot."
"You got to do me the biggest favor you've ever done," Trump told the crowd. "You've got to do this for me."
Trump asked members of the crowd to raise their right hands before leading them through the pledge.
"Please raise your right hand," Trump said.
"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," Trump said.
He continued: "I am gonna go out, and I'm going to get my friends, my family and we are going to vote on November 3 or we are going to vote before that."
Trump then moved to finish the pledge, telling the crowd: "So, we swear that on November 3rd, we are going to go out and vote."
"And you know what, if you want you can vote Democrat, but I don't think there's one person in this room..." Trump said, prompting boos from the crowd.
"I don't think so," Trump continued, before concluding the pledge with, "So help me God."
Trump then urged attendees to cast their ballots.
"You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell, you know that," Trump said. "And I don't want that to happen to you, so please go and vote."
The two-day gathering was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday and marked the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention, an unusual departure from the major party conventions traditionally held during presidential election years.
Trump was at the center of the gathering, described as a "Trump-a-Palooza," organized to energize the Republican base with less than two months to go until the midterm elections.
Among the notable moments was a surprise prerecorded appearance by Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who introduced his Republican colleague, Senator Dave McCormick. Trump also used his nearly two-hour first-night address to propose giving every adult U.S. citizen a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain control of Congress.
During Vance's keynote speech Thursday, members of the crowd chanted "JD 48," a reference to a potential presidential bid in 2028. The convention also featured tributes to conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his assassination, while former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr. were among dozens of other speakers.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, putting their House and Senate majorities at stake in November.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Commander and Gray R. Thomas
