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After Trump promised to pay $5,000 if Republicans win, here's what to expect Thursday
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"And it will be called the 'Trump dividend'. Congratulations. Now all we have to do is win."
That's a big "if." Republicans are facing significant political headwinds.
"We might not win," Trump admitted.
Plus, it's illegal to pay or be paid to influence voting.
"I kind of think they should take it and put it into the debt," said Meredith Smith, a convention attendee from Austin, Texas. "A lot of people are going to like [the payment]. But it also smacks of the other side."
Smith said she has mixed feelings.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida also denounced the president's promise of $5,000 to each adult American. At a press conference in Miami on Thursday, DeSantis said this amount of money would only cause more debt and inflation.
Robert Garcia, D-Calif., called the president a "known liar."
"The dividend is not happening," Garcia added. "[Trump] promised a dividend on tariffs. That didn't happen. He promised a dividend on DOGE. That didn't happen. He promised some strange, new dividend from Air Force One, what six months ago? That never happened."
"There's no one in the country that thinks somehow this new dividend is actually going to happen," he said.
"Republicans stand for common sense," said House Speaker Mike Johnson. Kennedy Jr. was one of a handful of Republicans who used their speech to talk about being former Democrats.
He noted the "irony" of a Kennedy at a Republican convention and said his father and uncle would not recognize the Democratic Party today.
"The party of Me Too. Remember that we were all supposed to listen to women and believe women?" Kennedy Jr. said.
NPR's Stephen Fowler contributed reporting.
A previous version of this web story mistakenly said that Republican Ron DeSantis is the governor of Texas. In fact, he is the governor of Florida.
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− Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Last night of the Republican convention underway in Dallas President Trump promised to send every adult citizen $5,000, but only if Republicans maintain control of Congress in the midterm election, drawing a strong response from House Democrats.
+ Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Republican convention wraps with speeches from Vance, Trump President Trump again touted his "Trump dividend" in his closing speech at the Republican convention.
− Elections Vance, Trump speaking at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas Updated September 10, 20269:58 PM ET Originally published September 10, 20265:00 AM ET Heard on All Things Considered By
Tamara Keith
,
Maham Javaid
Attendees wear letters that spell out TRUMP on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on Sept.
+ Vice President Vance used his remarks to urge voters to back Republicans, even if they disagree.
− 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
+ Elections Vance, Trump issue plea for Americans to vote Republican on last night of convention Updated September 10, 202611:50 PM ET Originally published September 10, 20265:00 AM ET Heard on All Things Considered By
Tamara Keith
,
Maham Javaid
Balloons drop as President Trump finishes speaking on the second day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on Sept.
− Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, President Trump made a stunning and implausible pledge: to send every American adult a $5,000 cash dividend.
+ 10, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
+ Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption
Vice President Vance had a request for people who might disagree with the Republican Party on an issue or policy: vote for us anyway.
"Don't give the country over to a bunch of crazy people because you happen to disagree with us on a policy issue here or there," Vance said in his remarks at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. "Recognize the achievements of the last 18 months. We have done a lot; my friends and we can do a lot more if we fight together."
His plea echoes President Trump's request for Republicans to vote in November as if he were on the ballot.
"Please pretend that I'm running," Trump said. "If we don't have the majorities, so much can be lost."
Vance and Trump both spoke Thursday night to close out the first-ever midterm convention for the Republican Party.
Vance repeated several of the themes heard from speakers over the last two days, describing Democrats as extreme.
The speech was interrupted by a protester carrying what Vance described as a Mexican flag. "If you love Mexico so much, get your a** over there. I'll buy you the plane ticket," said Vance after the protester was escorted out.
Elections This is what happened at the first night of the Republicans' midterm convention The vice president did not mention the $5,000 payments the president proposed on the first day of the convention. But as Trump took to the stage after Vance, he was quick to remind the room of his pledge: to send every American adult citizen a $5,000 cash dividend.
− "If the Republicans win, you win with us," Trump said to applause.
+ Vice President Vance speaks during the second day of the Republican National Committee midterm convention in Dallas, Texas on Sept.
+ 10, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
"If the Republicans win, you win with us," Trump said to applause on Wednesday.
− Politics Fetterman, already at odds with his party, makes surprise video for GOP convention Quick math puts the bill for this proposed "dividend" at more than $1 trillion.
+ Quick math puts the bill for this proposed "dividend" at more than $1 trillion.
− House Democrats in Dallas Thursday to counter program the convention quickly attacked the announcement.
+ Politics Fetterman, already at odds with his party, makes surprise video for GOP convention House Democrats in Dallas Thursday to counter program the convention quickly attacked the announcement.
− Elections This is what happened at the first night of the Republicans' midterm convention Rep.
+ Rep.
− Trump's address last night was a wide ranging, rally-style speech where he did everything from defend the Iran war to criticize the fashion sense of one Republican Senate candidate. He attacked Democrats as communist and extremists and begged Republicans to vote in November as if he were on the ballot.
+ Much of the messaging from convention speakers Thursday echoed the idea of the Republican Party being on the side of common sense, and positioning Democrats as too extreme.
− "Please pretend that I'm running," he said. "If we don't have the majorities, so much can be lost."
Much of the messaging from convention speakers Thursday echoed the idea of the Republican Party being on the side of common sense, and positioning Democrats as too extreme.
− "The Democrat party has been taken over by crazy, far-left radicals."
Some of that messaging focused on the rise of left-aligned candidates, but Sen.
+ "The Democrat party has been taken over by crazy, far-left radicals."
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
− Ted Cruz of Texas took it further and may have been one of the first speakers at the convention to conflate communism and Islamism.
"Communist and Islamists coming together and sweeping over the Democrat Party," said Cruz. "They are united because they share the same enemies."
Cruz said those enemies include Christians, Jews, capitalism, the Constitution and America.
"Shariah law has no place in America," said Cruz to massive applause in Dallas. "Shariah law is fundamentally inconsistent with the constitution, and we need to stand together and stop it now."
Throughout the evening there was a recurrent mention of Hasan Piker, a left-wing political commentator who has campaigned with Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El Sayed.
"Together they attack America. They excuse extremism," Michigan's Republican Senate nominee, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers said about El-Sayed and Piker. "They treat our country like it's the villain."
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
− "They cruelly silenced the voices of tens of thousands of mothers who believed that their children had suffered vaccine injuries."
Tonight, Trump will share the convention's final hour with Vice President Vance.
+ "They cruelly silenced the voices of tens of thousands of mothers who believed that their children had suffered vaccine injuries."
Attendees wear letters that spell out TRUMP on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on Sept.
− By the time Republicans hold their next convention in 2028, Trump will no longer be the center of the party's attention.
+ 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
− There will be a new nominee and de facto party leader charting a course for Republicans.
+ Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
Some messaging focused on the rise of left-aligned candidates, but Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas took it further and may have been one of the first speakers at the convention to conflate communism and Islamism.
− The program tonight will include a tribute to the late republican activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated one year ago, and an observance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, which is Friday.
MAGA celebrities and cabinet members will also grace the stage tonight.
+ "Communists and Islamists coming together and sweeping over the Democrat Party," said Cruz.
− Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to speak, along with Donald Trump Jr. and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
+ "They are united because they share the same enemies."
Cruz said those enemies include Christians, Jews, capitalism, the Constitution and America.
− Texas Republican Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton walks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on Sept.
+ "Shariah law has no place in America," said Cruz to massive applause in Dallas.
− 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
Texas Republican Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton walks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on Sept. 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running to represent the state in the US Senate made those points, but also used his speech to ask for money.
+ "Shariah law is fundamentally inconsistent with the Constitution, and we need to stand together and stop it now."
Throughout the evening there was a recurrent mention of Hasan Piker, a left-wing political commentator who has campaigned with Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
− "I need your prayers, your vote and your support," Paxton said.
+ "Together they attack America.
− "If we lose Texas, we lose the common sense revolution.
+ They excuse extremism," Michigan's Republican Senate nominee, former Rep.
− If we lose the common sense revolution, we lose America."
His Democratic opponent, state Rep.
+ Mike Rogers said about El-Sayed and Piker.
− James Talarico has a campaign cash advantage but Trump's Super PAC, MAGA Inc.
+ "They treat our country like it's the villain."
As the event concluded on Thursday night, balloons slowly dropped from the sky: red, white, blue and gold.
− just committed to spend $10 million, propping up Paxton and hitting Talarico.
+ Trump stood on the stage basking in the moment.
− A Republican shouldn't be in a tight race in Texas, but Paxton has been plagued by scandal and weak fundraising.
Trump, in his remarks, urged Texans to vote for Paxton despite what the president considers to be his flaws.
"Some may not like the way he dresses.
+ By the time Republicans hold their next convention in 2028, Trump will no longer be the center of the party's attention.
− I don't," Trump said as part of a lengthy and lighthearted critique of the man he endorsed.
+ There will be a new nominee and de facto party leader charting their own course for the party.