U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked voters waiting for him at the Republican convention in Dallas to vote for the party's candidates in the November midterm elections, warning they would return "to hell" otherwise. In a nearly two-hour speech, Trump asked voters to "pretend" his name would be on the ballot, a strategy to mobilize supporters for Republican candidates who risk losing the majority in Congress. The President is said to have paid approximately $5,000 for each vote gathered for the party's candidates.
Trump's strategy comes at a critical moment for Republicans, who face the possibility of losing control of Congress in November's elections. The call for voters to "pretend" they are voting for Trump himself is designed to circumvent the fact that he is not a candidate in these midterm elections, maintaining the mobilization of his base of supporters.
The article also mentions a Democrat who appeared at the Republican convention, described by Trump as a "traitor." This episode is part of the broader context of the former President's attempt to maintain his influence over the Republican Party, even outside elected office.
Trump asked voters to let him "finish the job," reinforcing the narrative that a vote for Democrats would represent a step backward. The convention in Dallas featured euphoric supporters, evidencing the strong connection between the Republican base and the former President, who remains a central figure in American politics.
