Trump accused of bribery after saying US citizens will receive $5,000 if Republicans win midterms

US President Donald Trump has pledged to pay every adult American citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November midterm elections.

Trump announced the proposal during a nearly two-hour speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where he urged voters to treat the elections as though his own name were on the ballot. “If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump told supporters.

The proposal would reportedly cost more than $1 trillion if implemented and immediately raised questions over its cost and implications. Trump used much of his speech to attack Democrats and warn supporters about the consequences he said would follow if Republicans lost control of Congress.

He claimed, without providing evidence, that his second term had been “the most successful two years, financially and every other way, in the history of the presidency”. “There is a crazy little sick cloud over our country,” Trump said. “We will defeat communism in America.”

The convention is the first midterm convention organised by the Republican Party. Republicans are seeking to maintain control of Congress in elections in which the party holding the White House has historically faced difficulties. Trump acknowledged that pattern but argued that Republicans could overcome it. “We’ve got to change that, because we have something going that’s so good,” he said.

“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. Our country is going through hell – we will be going through hell, just like we did, just two years ago.” Trump’s approval rating was reported to be around 38 per cent, and several Republican candidates contesting competitive races did not attend the two-day convention.

The president nevertheless presented himself as central to the party’s midterm campaign, repeatedly urging supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” and later asking them to “please pretend that I’m running”. Trump also defended the US war in Iran and warned Tehran “not to get cute”, saying otherwise the United States “will have to hit them very hard”.

He acknowledged the economic effects of rising oil prices and recalled telling his economic advisers that the United States needed to begin the conflict because, according to him, Iran was “two, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon”. “I hate to do this to you,” Trump said he told his advisers, while noting that the economy had been performing well before the conflict.

Attendance at the convention appeared less substantial than at the Republican Party’s traditional four-day convention in Milwaukee two years earlier, with empty seats visible during Trump’s address. Trump, however, claimed the venue was full. “Not only is this packed but you have an equal number of people standing outside,” he said. Reporters at the event said they did not observe an equivalent crowd outside the venue.

The Republican National Committee had previously announced that Americans could apply for tickets, suggesting applicants would enter a lottery for access. However, ticket applications were reportedly being approved immediately through an RNC registration page while the convention was underway.

Trump also used his speech to campaign for Republican candidates, including Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, whom he had backed in a primary contest against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. “He may not dress right. He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen,” Trump said of Paxton. “But you know what he is? He’s the greatest attorney general in America.”

Trump attacked several Democrats during his address, including Paxton’s opponent, James Talarico, whom he described as a “weird looking dude”. He also criticised former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, and Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.

Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin responded by accusing Republicans of staging a “bizarre dog-and-pony show” to satisfy Trump’s “fragile ego”. “Tonight only confirmed that the president is a lame duck failure who is dragging his party toward defeat,” Martin said. The Republican convention features about 12 hours of programming across two nights, with Trump loyalists, candidates and administration officials among the speakers.

Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, Mehmet Oz and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were among those who appeared on stage, while UFC fighters Bo Nickal and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje introduced Trump. Gaethje used his experience as a fighter to urge Republicans not to become complacent ahead of the elections.

“One mistake I’ve made in my career was becoming complacent while I was on a winning streak and forgetting how unforgiving my sport would be,” Gaethje said. “If we are not just as passionate about voting and winning in these midterms as we were in the last presidential election, then we risk being knocked out and losing all the momentum we have been fighting for.”

Republicans had said the convention would focus on “lowering costs, securing our border, making our communities safer, and putting American workers and families first”. Speakers also repeatedly attacked Democrats over issues including transgender rights.

Trump is scheduled to address the convention again on Thursday, although he said his second appearance would be considerably shorter. “I gave you a lot of material,” Trump said as he concluded Wednesday’s remarks, before again urging voters to “please pretend that I’m running”.