Donald Trump promised every adult citizen $5,000 if Republicans keep control of both chambers of Congress, in a speech capping the opening night of the party's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday. Trump spoke for more than 100 minutes and told supporters to "pretend that I'm on the ballot," the BBC reported. The pledge, which PBS NewsHour reported could cost at least $1 trillion, came with no details on how it would work beyond a requirement that recipients spend the money in the country.
What else was in the speech? Trump spent several minutes praising Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is in a tough Senate race, and defended his sweeping tariffs, PBS NewsHour reported. He also defended the war in Iran, saying he needed to start it because Iran was perhaps "two, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon." Before flying to Dallas, he told reporters that oil prices, which have surged because of the conflict, likely would not come down until after the midterms.
Who stayed away? Many Republicans, including some facing tight races, skipped the two-day event, and an Associated Press survey of more than four dozen Republican candidates found a majority either planned not to attend, said their plans were to be determined or ignored requests for comment, PBS NewsHour reported. Republican House members were asked to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging, while Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and John Sununu, who had just won New Hampshire's primary, were among the big names not attending. Asked why some candidates were skipping the convention, Trump said "everybody wants to come" but there was not room for everyone, The Hill reported. His approval rating stood at 33% in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll cited by DW.
How did Democrats respond? Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, said the "bizarre Republican midterm convention" could not "paper over the fact that Republicans have done nothing to earn your vote." A Democratic Party spokesperson, Kendall Witmer, said the only people reaping the benefits of Trump's economy were "himself, his family, and his ultra-rich elite donors," the BBC reported.
What comes next? Vice President 
J.D. Vance was scheduled to speak on Thursday, before Trump returned for closing remarks. Vance had been given a prominent role at the convention, while Marco Rubio, his potentially most important party rival, was not yet on the announced speaker list, DW reported ahead of the opening night.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump, J.D. Vance. — JudgeMarket.
