[Thursday 5am] Trump puts himself back on the ballot: 5 takeaways from GOP midterm convention Night 1

DALLAS — Facing a difficult political environment as Republicans fight to hold their congressional majorities, President Donald Trump used his address at the first-ever GOP midterm convention to unveil an unusual offer: a $5,000 dividend for every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans hold their House and Senate majorities.

With less than two months until the midterm elections — and early voting just weeks away — Trump and Republican leaders on the first night of the two-day convention used their speeches to showcase policy wins and paint Democratic Party politicians as far-left radicals.

Facing energized Democrats and stiff political headwinds, Trump and Republicans are using the gathering at the American Airlines Center in Dallas to motivate the party's MAGA base and boost turnout in key races that will determine control of Congress.

"I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot," the president urged, as he rallied his supporters.

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Here are five takeaways from night one at what's been described by Republican leaders as a "Trumpapalooza.

Trump's offer to Americans

Nearly an hour into his address, Trump unveiled what he described as "the best part of the speech," direct payments to the Americans funded by tariff revenues if Republicans retain control of Congress.

"If the Republicans win the ​House of Representatives and the United States Senate, ⁠ both of them," Trump announced, "because of our ​tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a ​dividend to every ‌adult citizen in the United States of ⁠ America for $5,000."

The president didn't reveal any other details, other than to add, "The only caveat I have is ​that the dividend that we're making must be spent in the ‌United States of America."

Democrats quickly pounced on the president's proposal.

"Donald Trump and Republicans are once again offering empty promises to Americans," Democratic National Committee (DNC) Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer claimed in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Trump's 'tremendous' economy

Amid persistent inflation, a new surge in fuel prices due to a flare-up in the ongoing war with Iran, and a deepening trade war with neighboring Canada, public opinion polls indicate Trump's approval ratings on the economy remain underwater.

But the president painted an optimistic picture of better times ahead.

"I’m bringing the prices down, way, way down," Trump touted. And he said that "oil will be going down as soon as we win the war with Iran," which he said. "is taking place right now."

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Trump also showcased the tax cuts passed lasted year along party lines by the GOP-controlled Congress.

"The largest tax cuts in the history of country," he highlighted. "We gave you no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security."

He also pointed to "the largest prescription drug price cuts in history... that alone should win the midterms."

While Trump touted "tremendous economic success," public opinion polls paint a very different picture, with the president's approval rating on his handling of the economy well into negative territory. Inflation was a key issue that helped boost Trump and the GOP to sweeping election victories in 2024. But Democrats say affordability has been the issue that fueled their ballot box victories and overperformances since Trump returned to the White House.

The DNC, which remains in debt and decided against holding a similar convention, is more than happy to focus on the economy.

"The only people reaping the benefits of Trump’s economy are himself, his family, and his ultra-rich elite donors. Meanwhile, working families get nothing except sky-high receipts at the grocery store and the pump, unaffordable healthcare premiums, and wages that aren’t keeping up with inflation," the DNC's Witmer charged.

'Crazed lunatics'

Midterm elections are often a referendum on the party in power, but Republicans aim to use the convention to draw a contrast as they spotlight Democrats' leftward lurch in this year's primaries and tie the party to far-left and socialist proposals.

"These people are radical left communists," Trump claimed, as he referred to Democrats.

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"Crazed lunatics and radicals," he added.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in his speech from the convention podium, argued "the radical left is relentless in their pursuit to remake America, in the image of every socialist hellscape of the last century."

And Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the number three Republican in the chamber charged that "Democrats north, south, east and west are running on this radical roadmap. They sound like an anti-American hate group."

Counterprogramming

Hours before the confab kicked off, Democrats presented their prebuttal.

"Voters can see through the BS that Republicans are spewing," Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois told reporters at a DNC counterprogramming news conference across the street from the convention hall.

"This bizarre Republican midterm convention here can't paper over the fact that Republicans have done nothing to earn your vote," Pritzker said. 

Following Trump's speech, which last nearly two hours, DNC Chair Ken Martin argued, "The biggest liability in American politics right now is Donald Trump — and he just proved it. Republicans now have to spin his disastrous, rambling speech when it’s clear that this bizarre dog-and-pony show is being held to placate Trump’s fragile ego."

Fetterman draws hard line after surprise appearance

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a centrist Democrat known for bashing his party's left flank, made a surprise pre-recorded video appearance at the GOP convention.

As he introduced Pennsylvania's other U.S. senator, Republican David McCormick, Fetterman explained his appearance.

"Why am I here talking to you today? Because. Well, I'm a commonsense Democrat. I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life," the senator said. "Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he's going to fight for Pennsylvania. I'm proud to count him as my friend right back over my shoulder."

Fetterman, who is a strong supporter of Israel, has increasingly railed against fellow Democrats who have criticized Israeli leaders over their ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. Fetterman has said he has "no plans" to leave the Democratic Party. But he added if Democrats officially became the "anti-Israel party," count him out.

In a statement released after his appearance, Fetterman emphasized, "I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party—and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on."