Trump Leads GOP Convention Crowd in Voting Pledge, Tells Them to ‘Cheat Like Hell’
Trump Leads GOP Convention Crowd in ‘Cheat Like Hell’ Voting Pledge
President Donald Trump closed the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday night by asking thousands of attendees to raise their right hands and recite a pledge to vote in November — a moment that included a joking line about cheating that drew laughter from the crowd.
“Please raise your right hand,” Trump said. He then led the audience in a pledge “to the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can’t even breathe,” adding that they would go out with family and friends to vote. “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,” he said. The cheating remark prompted laughter before Trump accused Democrats, without providing evidence, of being “bigger cheaters.” He later wrapped the exercise with “So help me God.”
Trump framed the midterms as a personal referendum, telling supporters to “pretend I’m on the ticket.” He also warned that those who fail to vote “go to hell.” The president repeated an earlier convention promise of $5,000 “dividend” checks for American adults if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate, though he offered few details on how the payments would be funded.
The two-day event in Dallas was an unusual midterm gathering organized around Trump. Vice President JD Vance delivered a keynote address that drew “JD 48” chants from some in the crowd. Trump’s approval rating has been reported near 36% in recent polls, and the convention came as Republicans seek to keep congressional majorities amid public frustration over issues including the economy and the war with Iran.
The pledge was widely described in coverage as theatrical rather than a literal instruction. Trump has previously condemned election fraud. The line about voting even if unregistered and “cheating like hell” was presented as a swipe at Democrats. Attendees echoed parts of the pledge as Trump directed them. 17GEN4.com
Sources: Forbes article syndicated on Yahoo News by Siladitya Ray (Sept. 11, 2026), The New York Times, CNN, Newsweek, The Washington Post. Original Forbes link:
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