Trump concludes Republican convention: Vote in November or “you will go to hell

The Republican Party’s first convention ahead of the midterm elections in November concluded with a direct appeal from Donald Trump to voters: “Go vote or you will go to hell.” The elections are expected to be crucial for the American president.

During the two-day event in Dallas, Trump used forceful slogans and repeated several of his promises, including one to provide a $5,000 “dividend” to every American if Republicans win the midterm elections. He also asked supporters to pledge their loyalty to him.

Vice President JD Vance’s speech preceded Trump’s and fired up the crowd. Vance is increasingly being mentioned as one of the Republican Party’s leading potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election.

Vance fiercely attacked the Democrats, calling them “the party of hatred” and urging Republicans to mobilize for the November elections. “They are the party that despises America and sympathizes with the terrorists who carried out the September 11 attacks. Let us never forget that America belongs to those who love it,” he said.

Vance called on Americans to assess the Republican administration’s record over the past 18 months. According to him, the country must not be left to a “group of lunatics” who would destroy it.

Trump then greeted supporters gathered at the packed American Airlines Center, beginning by praising the vice president. “Two years ago, I was elected to save America, and I have kept every promise. I took America’s darkest moment and turned it into a golden age,” the American president said.

Trump warned that a Democratic victory would have grave consequences, saying: “They will confiscate your wealth, triple your taxes and mutilate your children.” At the same time, he reaffirmed his pledge to give every American $5,000 if Republicans win the midterm elections.

The American president further steered his supporters toward voting in November, asking them to regard him as the candidate on the ballot: “Pretend that I am the candidate and that my name is on the ballot.”

Trump also devoted part of his speech to the war with Iran. He said he felt no remorse for the decisions he had made, adding: “I don’t believe in the concept of regret. Somebody asked me about that. If I had to do it again, I would do exactly what I did.”

Although he acknowledged that he sometimes questions the situation, Trump said that Iran, in his view, is surrendering on every front. Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, he said: “We control the Strait of Trump.”

In closing, Trump invited those present to take a loyalty oath to him. “Raise your hand and repeat after me: I promise the greatest president in the history of the United States, who loves us so much, that I will go vote,” he said, as the crowd repeated the president’s words. He then added sarcastically: “Do you know what happens if you don’t go vote? You will go to hell.”

The convention ended with Trump repeating his promise to “make America great again.” As the American national anthem played, hundreds of balloons descended over the crowd, marking the conclusion of the event he organized as part of preparations for the November elections.