Trump shapes GOP convention agenda amid low approval and midterm challenges
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President Donald Trump is directing the Republican National Convention program and using the event to promote his record, while party officials and strategists debate its impact on voter turnout ahead of the November midterms.
The Republican National Convention, opening Wednesday in Dallas, will feature two speeches by President Donald Trump— a keynote on the first night and closing remarks after Vice President JD Vance’s address. Party leaders said the convention was Trump's idea and described it as a showcase for the GOP’s agenda.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the gathering would be “very instructive, very exciting,” and highlighted the planned stage presentations. Trump’s political operation, MAGA Inc., is allocating $10 million for television and digital ads in a competitive Texas Senate race, while the affiliated group Securing American Greatness is running videos that emphasize Trump’s record.
Republican strategist Rick Tyler warned that the party needs a clear message and voter mobilization rather than generic attacks on Democrats. He noted that Trump’s absence from the ballot could limit turnout among his supporters.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene expressed doubt about the convention’s messaging, stating, “I’m not sure what they’re doing. They don’t have a message, they have nothing to say.”
Trump has repeatedly labeled Democrats as communists on social media, describing the ideology as responsible for global death and destruction. He also urged supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” during a recent rally.
The convention’s speaker lineup includes Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Donald Trump Jr., alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Some Republican incumbents, such as Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan, will skip the event to focus on their districts, while others see the Dallas stage as an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
The event coincides with the start of the NFL season, and major broadcast networks have not committed to full coverage, raising questions about its reach to voters.