By TheDailyNewsHub
US President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to turn out in large numbers for the November midterm elections, telling supporters at a Republican convention in Dallas, Texas, that they would “go to hell” if they failed to vote.
Trump made the remark on Thursday, September 10, 2026, while closing the Republican National Committee’s inaugural midterm convention. He was rallying his supporters to vote in the November 3 elections, in which Republicans are seeking to retain control of Congress.
Trump first led members of the audience in a pledge to vote on November 3 or earlier. He told them that although they could vote for Democrats, he did not expect anyone in the room to do so.
He then warned the crowd: “You know what happens if you don’t vote? You go to hell. You know that. Okay? You go to hell. And I don’t want that to happen to you, so please go and vote.”
Trump followed the remark by urging the audience to help Republicans defeat what he described as “communists” and “radical left lunatics.”
The comments formed part of a broader effort by Trump and other Republican leaders to energise the party’s base ahead of the midterm elections. Trump has repeatedly urged his supporters to treat the November election as though he himself were on the ballot.
Earlier in the convention, he encouraged Republicans to vote regardless of whether they had previously been politically active, and urged them to bring their friends and family to the polls.
The November 3 elections will determine control of both chambers of the US Congress. With Trump unable to seek another presidential term under the US Constitution, the midterms represent an important test of his political influence and the strength of the Republican Party during his second presidency.
Trump’s remarks have attracted attention because of the unusual religious language he used to pressure supporters to vote. The comment was made in the context of a political appeal and was not presented as a formal religious doctrine or legal consequence.
The Republican convention also featured Vice President JD Vance, who delivered a major address focused on Republican priorities and criticised Democrats. The gathering was designed largely to mobilise Republican voters ahead of the midterms.
Trump’s comments have since been widely reported by US media, with the exact wording preserved in a transcript of his speech.