Trump pledges $5,000 to every American – and other takeaways from Republican midterms convention

ByDaniel Bush Washington correspondent, reporting from Dallas.

Key points

• It means a $5, 000 payout would cost the US administration some $1.3 trillion.
• President Donald Trump, whose grip over the party remains absolute, delivered a lengthy keynote speech on Wednesday during the opening night of the two-day event.
• The old-style Republican establishment, or what's left of it in the Trump era, was nowhere to be seen.
• As he departed for the convention, Trump acknowledged that Americans may have to wait a while longer to see relief from high fuel rates, earlier on Wednesday.
• Plenty of Republican candidates may well have hoped for a more direct message on addressing the cost of living and swiftly ending the war in Iran.

For context, the Republican Party's first midterms convention had all the trappings of the traditional presidential election-year gathering: supporters in sparkling costumes, a conveyor belt of candidate speeches, and vendors selling campaign merchandise.

But unlike an ordinary convention, no official party business was conducted in Dallas, with the event instead serving as a rally for Republicans who are seeking to boost turnout and avoid losing control of Congress in November.

President Donald Trump, whose grip over the party remains absolute, delivered a lengthy keynote speech on Wednesday during the opening night of the two-day event. He covered plenty of of the subjects he has returned to time and again this year – with a few surprises thrown in. Here are the key takeaways from his address. 1. Preaching to the MAGA choir.

Notably, the vast arena was filled with diehard Trump supporters sporting red MAGA gear from his past presidential campaigns. A decade after his first White House run, Trump is still beloved among his base and he has bent the party to his will in the years since.

For context, the old-style Republican establishment, or what's left of it in the Trump era, was nowhere to be seen. Senator Susan Collins of Maine and other Republicans running in competitive races chose to stay away.

Meanwhile, the absence of more moderate Republicans was glaring and offered a reminder of just how much the party has changed.

It additionally raised questions concerning the effectiveness of holding an unprecedented midterm convention in the first place.

Meanwhile, the core audience, both in the arena and watching on television, appeared to be Trump loyalists, not the moderates and swing voters the Republican Party needs to turn out in sizeable numbers in November. 2. It's still Trump's party.

Trump's total grip on the party raises some pointed questions regarding its future. Namely – who will replace him? And more immediately for November's elections, how will it perform when his name isn't on the ballot?

Trump offered a simple solution to the latter question on Wednesday night. After warning that the sitting president tends to lose the midterms, he informed the crowd: "I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot."

For context, the remark was an acknowledgement by Trump that he remains the party's best driver of turnout. It additionally speaks to the challenge Republicans have both in November and in the next presidential election in 2028.

Trump will not be on the ballot again, and though he can continue campaigning for the party, there is not a clear or obvious successor who can rally the base quite like Trump.

In interviews with the BBC, convention goers often looked ahead to the election in two years' time and debated who Trump's successor should be. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were frequently mentioned as top contenders.

Trump, nevertheless, produced clear in Dallas that he is still in charge and is not in a hurry to offer up the spotlight. 3. A gamble on affordability.

"I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterms, " Trump remarked.

Notably, the president reiterated that message in his speech, arguing that short-term economic pain caused by the war in Iran was worth it to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

But that may be a tough message to land with voters who are feeling higher costs.

Polls have consistently indicated in recent months that the cost of living is a top-ranking matter among Americans.

Trump's approval rating, too, has taken a hit as the war in Iran has dragged on. A Financial Times / Focaldata poll published on Sunday indicated that it had hit a new low, with only 33% of registered voters approving of his presidential performance.

Plenty of Republican candidates may well have hoped for a more direct message on addressing the cost of living and swiftly ending the war in Iran. 4. Trump makes $5, 000 payout.

Trump has long thrown out unconventional ideas at rallies. On Wednesday night, that came in the form of an offer to pay every adult US citizen $5, 000 (£3, 700) if Republicans win both chambers of Congress in November.

For context, the only caveat, Trump remarked, was the capital would have to be spent in the US.

He offered no details on how the plan would work, where the funds would come from, or how the US administration would monitor how it was spent. Democrats rapidly labelled it an "empty promise" and others questioned whether such a pledge was even legal.

There are almost 270 million American adults. It means a $5, 000 payout would cost the US administration some $1.3 trillion.

Whether the plan was feasible or not appeared to be beside the point. The idea drew raucous applause at the convention and Trump seemed to relish the moment.

Taken together, the developments around trump pledges $5, 000 to every American – and other takeaways from Republican point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.