US President Donald Trump said he would pay every American adult a US$5,000 "Trump dividend" if Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm elections, a striking attempt to persuade voters to back his party.

Trump made the proposal at the GOP's first-ever midterm convention, but it was not immediately clear how the payments would work or whether they would be legal.

With approximately 270 million US adults, the idea would cost around US$1.35 trillion.

During his primetime address, Trump boasted of completing "the greatest two years in the history of the presidency," putting himself squarely at the centre of the election despite his deepening unpopularity.

But it was not clear whether his campaign-style speech would appeal to the critical swing voters who opinion polls show have drifted away from Trump's party, amid growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the war on Iran.

"We hand America's future to the radical left Democrats, and our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet," he said.

"Vote Republicans and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come."

The two-day Dallas gathering, where Trump will also deliver the closing remarks on Thursday after US Vice President JD Vance's keynote address, underscores the extent to which Republicans' fortunes are tethered to Trump and serves as a showcase for their strategy ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The focus on Trump amounts to a risky bet that he can mobilise the voters who carried him to the presidency two years ago, despite public polls showing his approval ratings have hit an all-time low.

The president vowed to pay multiple visits to battleground states and districts in the eight weeks until election day.

"I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on ⁠the ballot," Trump said, a line that may have pleased Democratic campaign strategists just as much as Maga voters.

Though Trump insisted the 21,000-seat arena was "packed," the upper sections remained largely empty during his speech capping Wednesday's programme.

After months of negative headlines over the Iran war and inflation, many Republicans see the gathering as their best chance to promote candidates, draw contrasts with Democrats and energise a Republican electorate expressing less enthusiasm about voting than Democrats, according to a poll. (Reuters)



Edited by Tony Sabine