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.”
What Was the Pledge?
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.”
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.”
