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By Jordan King
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President Donald Trump jokingly led thousands of Republicans in a pledge to “cheat like hell” in the midterm elections, with video of the moment going viral on social media.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention in Dallas on Thursday, Trump asked attendees to raise their right hands and repeat a pledge to vote on November 3—even if they were not registered—and to “cheat like hell,” as he has repeatedly claimed that the Democrats do.
“I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do,” Trump said, pausing as members of the crowd repeated his words. “There’s never been bigger cheaters.”
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The clip circulated widely online after the convention, garnering more than 1 million views on a post by the journalism account Acyn, more than 100,000 views on the same post by Republicans Against Trump and tens of thousands of views on other accounts.
Trump drew criticism over both the cheating line and his call to have party supporters pledge allegiance to him personally. The president described himself during the oath as “the greatest president in the history of the United States” before telling those who failed to vote that they would “go to hell.”
“Donald J. Trump is officially having a mental attack on stage while millions of Americans watch on live TV. 25th Amendment now,” the progressive, anti_trump account Call to Activism wrote on X.
Trump’s cheating accusation echoed a yearslong pattern of baseless claims that Democrats and election officials rig elections against him. He has continued to insist that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, despite recounts, audits and court rulings finding no evidence of fraud capable of changing its result, according to The Associated Press.
What Was the Pledge?
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Trump asked members of the crowd to raise their right hands before leading them through the pledge.
"Please raise your right hand," Trump said.
"I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States. That loves us so much he can't even breathe. That I will go out with my family, my friends. I'll do it any way—I don't care if I'm registered or not—I'm going to try to cheat like hell like they do," Trump said.
He continued: "I am gonna go out, and I'm going to get my friends, my family and we are going to vote on November 3 or we are going to vote before that."
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Trump then moved to finish the pledge, telling the crowd: "So, we swear that on November 3rd, we are going to go out and vote."
"And you know what, if you want you can vote Democrat, but I don't think there's one person in this room..." Trump said, prompting boos from the crowd.
"I don't think so," Trump continued, before concluding the pledge with, "So help me God."
Trump then urged attendees to cast their ballots.
"You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell, you know that," Trump said. "And I don't want that to happen to you, so please go and vote."
'Funniest President of All Time'
The pledge drew sharply divided reactions online. Entrepreneur and social media news commentator Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) called Trump’s words “legally and politically reckless,” adding: “You can almost see his election lawyers developing a twitch.”
@cjdelgross, a self-described Reagan Republican and opponent of Trump, wrote: “I don’t want to hear another 2020 election conspiracy from any MAGA cultist ever again after that phrase.”
But some defended the exchange as comedy and a push to increase turnout. Eric Daugherty, a conservative media commentator (@EricLDaugh), wrote: “LMFAO! ... HE’S IN HIS ELEMENT TONIGHT!” Benny Johnson, a conservative political commentator and podcast host (@bennyjohnson), described Trump as the “funniest president of all time.”
About the Republican Midterm Convention
The two-day gathering was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday and marked the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention, an unusual departure from the major party conventions traditionally held during presidential election years.
Trump was at the center of the gathering, described as a "Trump-a-Palooza," organized to energize the Republican base with less than two months to go until the midterm elections.
Among the notable moments was a surprise prerecorded appearance by Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who introduced his Republican colleague, Senator Dave McCormick. Trump also used his nearly two-hour first-night address to propose giving every adult U.S. citizen a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain control of Congress.
During Vance's keynote speech Thursday, members of the crowd chanted "JD 48," a reference to a potential presidential bid in 2028. The convention also featured tributes to conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his assassination, while former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr. were among dozens of other speakers.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, putting their House and Senate majorities at stake in November.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Commander and Gray R. Thomas
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