US President Donald Trump has warned his Republican supporters that they would “go to hell” if they failed to vote in the November midterm elections.
Trump issued the warning while addressing supporters at the Republican Party’s convention in Dallas, Texas, where he urged them to mobilise voters ahead of the congressional elections.
The president led the crowd in a pledge to vote and encouraged his supporters to bring their friends and family to the polls.
“You know what happens if you don’t vote? You go to hell,” Trump told the gathering.
He also urged his supporters to “try and cheat like hell” while alleging that Democrats engage in widespread electoral fraud.
Trump used the address to highlight what he described as the achievements of his administration, declaring that he had transformed what he called a “dark age” into a “golden age” for the United States.
According to him, his administration had delivered on his campaign promises, citing the performance of the stock market, lower prescription drug prices, increased military spending and a reduction in illegal border crossings.
“In 19 months, I’ve delivered on every single promise I’ve made,” Trump said.
He also pointed to recent congressional measures providing tax breaks on overtime pay, tips and Social Security benefits as evidence of his administration’s progress.
Trump warned that a Democratic victory in the November elections would reverse what he described as the gains made under his administration.
He claimed that Democrats would seek to confiscate personal wealth, undermine Texas’ oil and gas industry and allow criminals to “rob, rape and kill,” as he alleged happened under the previous administration.
Earlier, Vice President JD Vance urged Republican supporters to turn out in large numbers to protect the party’s majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
“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.
He urged Republicans to preserve what he described as the political legacy handed down by previous generations.
The convention also provided a platform for Vance to rally the Republican base ahead of the November elections, while further positioning him as a leading figure in the party ahead of the 2028 presidential election.