Trump leads supporters in pledge to himself, warns of damnation
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Donald Trump closed the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas by leading supporters in a pledge of allegiance to himself, praising his own record and warning that Americans who fail to vote Republican on 3 November would "go to hell." New details have emerged about the rest of the two-day event, including a roughly 40-minute keynote from Vice President JD Vance that was interrupted by a heckler waving Mexican and Palestinian flags shouting "Free Palestine," and sharp Democratic criticism dismissing the gathering as a "cult ritual" and a "pointless exercise."
Trump's closing speech on Thursday lasted under 30 minutes, far shorter than his near two-hour address the previous night, and he used part of it to praise Vance, whom the crowd greeted with chants of "JD! JD!" amid speculation over his future presidential ambitions. Vance's own address focused on affordability, border security and family issues, branded Democrats "the party of hatred," and drew its loudest response when he told the heckler to "get your a** over there" to Mexico. Several vulnerable Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Senate nominee John E Sununu, skipped the convention altogether, as most forecasters continue to expect Democrats to retake the House in November.
- Trump led supporters in pledging allegiance to himself in Dallas
- Vance's convention speech was interrupted by a flag-waving heckler
- Democrats called the pledge a "cult ritual"; vulnerable GOP candidates stayed away
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Trump's Republican Midterm Convention took place in Dallas over two days, bringing together party figures ahead of November's midterm elections, in which control of Congress is at stake. Vice President JD Vance and cabinet members including Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Scott Bessent and Dr Mehmet Oz attended, while some Republicans facing tough re-election races, such as Senator Susan Collins, stayed away from the main stage. The convention also paid tribute to Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist killed the previous September, and fell close to the anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
Midterm elections, held partway through a president's term, determine who controls the House of Representatives and Senate, and are widely seen as a gauge of public support for the sitting administration. Forecasts currently suggest Democrats are likely to gain control of the House, while the Senate outcome remains uncertain in several closely fought states. Speeches at events like this one are typically aimed at energising supporters and encouraging voter turnout.
Donald Trump, the current US president, is known for lengthy, freewheeling speeches at rallies and party events, often mixing policy claims with personal remarks and criticism of opponents. His public conduct and rhetoric, including how he engages with supporters, has long attracted close scrutiny from both allies and critics.
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The case for
Supporters would argue that the pledge and the warnings of damnation were colourful, tongue-in-cheek rhetorical flourishes typical of Trump's showman style, meant to energise the base and dramatise the stakes of the election rather than a literal loyalty oath. They would note that party conventions are inherently partisan rallies where chants, hyperbole and personality-driven enthusiasm are long-standing traditions in American politics, not a novel departure. They might also point to Vance's substantive remarks on affordability, border security and family policy as evidence the event carried real policy content beyond the theatrics.
The case against
Critics, echoing the Democratic officials quoted, would argue that leading a crowd in a pledge of loyalty to a single politician and warning of damnation for opposing him blurs the line between democratic politics and quasi-religious devotion, evoking genuine concerns about personality-cult dynamics rather than ordinary campaign hype. They would note that the absence of vulnerable Republicans such as Susan Collins and Ashley Hinson suggests even some within the party found the spectacle politically uncomfortable. They might further point to the heckler's forceful removal and Vance's crude dismissal of him as signs of an atmosphere that discourages dissent rather than engages with it.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Extraordinary moment Trump leads fawning crowd in pledge of allegiance to HIMSELF during rambling convention speech… as he says Americans will go to hell if they don’t vote Republican”.