President Donald Trump closed the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday by leading attendees in a pledge to vote in the November elections. He asked the crowd to raise their right hands and repeat after him.
Trump declared: “I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends. I’ll do it any way. I don’t care if I’m registered or not. I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do. There’s never been bigger cheaters. They don’t care. I am going to go out and I’m going to get my friends, my family, and we are going to vote on November 3 or we are going to vote before that.”
The audience laughed at the cheating line and then echoed parts of the statement. Trump ended the pledge with “So help me God.”
Afterward, Trump told the crowd: “You know what happens if you don’t vote? You go to hell.” He added that he did not want that outcome and urged them to vote so they could “defeat the communists.”
Earlier in the speech, Trump said the party wanted honesty in elections. He then accused Democrats of widespread cheating without presenting evidence. He also asked supporters to treat the midterms as if he were on the ballot.
The gathering marked the first Republican midterm convention held before the November contests that will decide control of Congress. Trump used the closing address to press for high turnout and to warn against Democratic gains.
Attendees, including some party leaders, raised their hands during the pledge. Trump noted that people could vote Democrat if they wished but said he did not believe anyone in the room would do so.
