[Anchor]

As the war with Iran bogs down, the average price of diesel in the U.S. has hit a record high. This stacks up bad news for President Trump with less than two months left before the midterm elections, yet he rolled out another cash-distribution pledge today (the 11th).

Jeon Byeong-nam reports from Dallas.

[Reporter]

On the second day of the party convention held in the Republican stronghold of Texas, U.S. President Trump reiterated his promise to give 5,000 dollars to every adult if the Republican Party wins both the House and the Senate in the midterms.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: We call it the "Trump Dividend." It's giving 5,000 dollars to every adult citizen in America.]

He stated that tariff revenues would be used to fund the payouts, drawing enthusiastic cheers from his ardent base, MAGA, attending the convention.

[Ryan Ciriak / Texas: It's a great story. Nobody is going to turn down 5,000 dollars.]

[Ever Is / Texas: It's definitely an interesting story. I'm curious to see how it will be implemented.]

Even within the Republican Party, criticisms are emerging that this amounts to "vote-buying." However, diesel prices have surpassed even 6 dollars per gallon—an all-time high—in the wake of the Iran war, and his approval ratings remain stuck at their lowest levels.

Trump also unveiled an additional pledge to return 500 dollars per person to 1 million people across 30 states for overcharged insurance premiums during the Biden administration.

Trump emphasized that his administration is doing the right thing, claiming that the previous Biden administration investigated the matter fully but refused to return the money.

It is an attempt to win back voters by spraying cash, even if it means resorting to handouts.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: You know what happens if you don't vote? You're going to Hell, you know that. You understand? You're going to Hell.]

However, projections continue to mount that the Democratic Party will recapture at least the House of Representatives.

Democratic supporters held counter-protests for the second consecutive day near the Republican convention venue.

Clashes occasionally broke out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators at the protest sites.

[Jimmy / Dallas: We are protesting the Republican Party. That is not a party convention. It's just a flashy Trump rally.]

During the convention speeches that concluded today, some participants even made remarks inciting assassination, saying that the Democratic candidate should be shot.

(Reported by Oh Jung-shik | Video edited by Kim Byung-jik | Designed by Han Heung-su)