GOP midterm convention: Trump directs crowd in a pledge to himself

While Republicans took the stage at American Airlines Center, a few miles away at Dallas City Hall, Democrats and community organizers held a rally and delivered a message for the GOP: they are determined to "vote like their lives depend on it."

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, said Republicans are holding the midterm convention in Dallas because they are afraid of losing the state to Democrats.

"They want us to be afraid of immigrants, of Muslims, of trans Americans," he said. "They're trying to divide us on our differences and distract us while they pick our pockets and commit the worst corruption in public office that we have ever seen in the history of our country."

Rep. Christian Menefee argued that Republicans boldly exercise their power when they're in control and it's time for Democrats to do the same, adding that impeachment of Trump could be on the table if Democrats have the votes.

"When Republicans get power, they exercise it. They have no problem rolling back our rights ... When Democrats get power back, it's time to pass voting rights legislation in this country," he said.

Rep. Marc Veasey told Trump he'd "better start practicing" saying "Senator James Talarico" and "Governor Gina Hinojosa," and Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder had a simple message for Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, Vice President JD Vance, and Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton: "Accountability is on the way."

-ABC News' Juhi Doshi

Trump closed out the second night of the Republican midterm convention with many of the same issues he addressed the night before and directed the crowd to recite a pledge to him to vote -- even if that means they have to "cheat like hell."

"Please raise your right hand," Trump directed the crowd.

"I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much we 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 and cheat like hell like they do. They never- There's never been bigger cheaters, they don't care. 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," Trump prompted the audience to repeat back to him.

"OK. Are you ready? Ready to finish the pledge?" he asked. "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," he joked.

"You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell. You know that. OK? You go to hell. And I don't want that to happen to you. So please go and vote," Trump said.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Nicholas Kerr

Vice President JD Vance addressed the closing night of the Republican midterm convention on Thursday night in a speech rife with culture war rhetoric, lauding constructs like the "nuclear family" and lamenting that Americans were "tired of being called racists" prior to Trump's return to the White House.

As Vance hit on topics ranging from the American family to the assassination of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, a protester interrupted him midway through his remarks, prompting jeers and chants from the audience.

Notably, Vance did not reference Trump's promise in his address on Wednesday to pay $5,000 to Americans if the GOP wins in November. Nor did he mention tariffs, the White House ballroom project or the Iran war -- issues and topics that have been significant during Trump's second term.

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr and Hannah Demissie

Vice President JD Vance was momentarily caught off guard while speaking at the GOP convention by a protestor who unfurled what appeared to be Palestinian and Mexican flags.

He quickly recovered, turning the incident into an ad-libbed applause line.

"We just had a protestor interrupting us and waving the Mexican flag. Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there, I'll buy you the plane ticket."

Vance's center-stage speech focused on painting Democrats as extreme, out-of-touch activists, and he used the outburst to hammer home his message.

"I had, ladies and gentlemen, a whole speech written, but I think we got to change it because we just discovered the symbol of the far left: an idiot waving an American — or a Mexican flag, at a protest when he should be waving an American flag."

"Our flag waving friend over there is actually the new congressional delegate for New York 14," he joked.

-ABC News’ Ben Siegel