Trump Tells South Carolina Voters to ‘Pretend That I’m on the Ballot’ in Push for Darline Graham

President Trump urged South Carolina Republicans on Thursday to treat Tuesday’s midterm elections as a vote on him, telling a Rock Hill crowd, “Pretend that I’m on the ballot.”

“Because when I’m on the ballot, for whatever reason, 49.2 percent more people show up,” Trump told several thousand supporters at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center, the Post and Courier reported.

Trump acknowledged the history working against a president’s party in midterms. “All three times when I was on the ballot, we won all three times,” he said. “When they won, I’m not on the ballot.”

“The midterms, we just — I don’t know what it is. There’s something strange because if you’re president, Republican or Democrat, for whatever reason, you don’t win the midterms,” he added.

The stop was meant to boost Sen. Darline Graham, Trump’s pick to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Both have struggled in the polls.

Trump asked South Carolinians to vote for Graham as a tribute to her brother, a close friend of his. Graham is running nearly double digits behind GOP gubernatorial nominee Alan Wilson in statewide polling.

It was Trump’s second South Carolina rally this month, as Graham tries to fend off an unexpectedly strong challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews, according to the Associated Press.

Trump also converted a planned Kansas event into a tele-rally, and the White House says he will hold more than 20 tele-rallies before Election Day. Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall faces a tough race against Democrat Adam Hamilton.

The $5,000 Pledge

In Rock Hill, Trump cited 3.4 percent economic growth last quarter and again promised voters $5,000 each if Republicans win. He also took aim at Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

“If you’re Black or if you’re Jewish, and if you vote for that guy, you’re crazy,” Trump said of El-Sayed, repeating allegations the Post and Courier called unfounded that the candidate sympathizes with radical Islamist groups.

Trump laid out the dividend pledge in an Oct. 3 Truth Social video. “If Republicans win the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 Midterm Elections, I’m going to give all Adult Citizens in the United States of America, $5,000,” he said, according to CNBC.

Sending $5,000 to every adult citizen would cost roughly $1.2 trillion. Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) has vowed to “throw everything of my heart and soul” into stopping it, warning it could push interest rates higher.

Voters are skeptical. An Economist/YouGov survey found 57 percent of registered voters doubted Trump would deliver the payments even if Republicans kept Congress, and a Rasmussen Reports poll found likely voters split 47 percent to 48 percent.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said the payments need congressional approval. “I would assume, yes, he’d need Congress to act, and that’s a creative idea,” Johnson said in September, the AP reported.

Johnson pledged to try. “He’s the big ideas president. We’re going to try to implement everything we can,” he said. Trump has insisted, “The 5,000’s going to happen, 100%.”

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