US President Donald Trump used a keynote speech at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas on September 9, 2026, to rally support ahead of the November midterm elections. Speaking for nearly two hours, Trump urged voters to treat the elections as if he were on the ballot and strongly defended his administration’s policies on Iran and tariffs.
“Pretend That I Am on the Ballot”
Trump told the crowd at the American Airlines Center that Republicans traditionally struggle in midterm elections when the president is not running. He called on supporters to change that pattern.
I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said. “Just one more time. Because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security, you’re going to lose your wealth.”
He warned that handing control of Congress to Democrats would be “a tragedy” and set the country back for years.
Defense of Iran Policy and Tariffs
Trump devoted significant time to defending two of his most debated policies. On the ongoing conflict with Iran, he argued that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He dismissed criticism linked to rising oil and gas prices, saying prices would fall once the war is won.
On trade, Trump reaffirmed his support for tariffs, calling “tariff” one of his favorite words and claiming they would revitalize American industries that had lost ground to foreign competitors. He said trillions of dollars in tariff revenue had already been collected.
$5,000 Dividend Promise
In one of the speech’s most notable moments, Trump promised that if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate, every adult US citizen would receive a $5,000 “dividend.” He described it as similar to a company distributing profits to shareholders and said the money would have to be spent in the United States. Details on funding and implementation were not provided.
Focus on Midterm Races
Trump pledged to campaign aggressively in key battleground states and said there were about 35 critical House and Senate races. He encouraged supporters to turn out in large numbers to protect Republican majorities.
The two-day convention in Dallas was designed to energize the Republican base ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. While some Republican candidates speaking earlier in the day avoided direct discussion of Iran and tariffs, Trump placed both issues at the center of his address.
The speech underscored Trump’s strategy of framing the midterms around his personal leadership and policy record.
