US President Donald Trump has urged his supporters to mobilise their families and friends to vote in the November 3 election, while making a controversial remark that he would “cheat like hell” regardless of whether he was registered to vote.
Trump made the comments while addressing a Republican gathering in Dallas, Texas, where he led supporters in a mock pledge, according to a Reuters report on Friday.
During the event, Trump asked members of the audience to raise their right hands and repeat after him as he delivered the pledge. He called on them to support what he described as “the greatest president in the history of the United States” before turning his attention to the upcoming election.
Trump encouraged those present to ensure that their relatives, friends and other supporters participated in the voting process.
“I don’t care if I’m registered or not. I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do. They’ve never—there’s never been bigger cheaters. I don’t care,” Trump said.
He subsequently urged the audience to mobilise ahead of election day, stressing that supporters could also vote before November 3 where early voting was available.
“I am going to go out, and I’m going to get my friends, my family, and we are going to vote on November 3rd, or we are going to vote before that. So help me God,” he added.
The crowd repeated the final phrase of the pledge, after which Trump made another remark about the consequences of failing to vote.
“Now I know. Now, I’d say just about everybody who…you know what happens if you don’t vote? You go to hell, you know that. Okay?” he said.
Trump’s comments came as he sought to energise Republican voters ahead of the November election, with control of Congress at stake.
The remarks about being unregistered and “cheating” were particularly provocative, given the importance of compliance with election laws and established voting procedures. Trump has frequently made allegations about electoral misconduct and has continued to frame elections as a contest in which his supporters must remain highly mobilised.
His appeal to supporters to vote, however, formed the central message of the gathering, with the former president encouraging Republicans to organise their networks and ensure that eligible voters participated.
The November election was expected to carry significant political consequences, particularly because control of Congress would influence the ability of the administration and the Republican Party to advance its legislative priorities.
Trump’s call for supporters to vote before or on election day also reflected the growing importance of early voting in American elections. Political campaigns increasingly use rallies and grassroots mobilisation efforts to encourage supporters to vote as early as permitted under state election laws.
While Trump’s remarks were delivered in a highly charged and often humorous setting, his comments about voting and “cheating” were likely to attract scrutiny because of the legal and constitutional importance of elections in determining political leadership.
The event nevertheless served its immediate political purpose of rallying Republican supporters, with Trump urging them to take an active role in the election by encouraging their families, friends and wider networks to participate.
As the election approached, both major political parties were expected to intensify voter mobilisation efforts, recognising that turnout could play a decisive role in determining the balance of power in Washington.
