Republicans Gather in Texas to Worship Trump as Party Faces Identity Crisis Ahead of Midterms
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Republican leaders convened in Dallas for a Trump-orchestrated convention, signaling the party’s continued submission to his divisive politics, even as the GOP grapples with its future and the consequences of Trump’s toxic legacy.
Republican officials and their loyalists descended upon Dallas, Texas, for a two-night convention orchestrated at the behest of President Donald Trump, whose shadow continues to loom over the party. Trump, ever the center of attention, is scheduled to appear both evenings, watching the proceedings from a private suite—a stark reminder of his iron grip on the GOP.
This spectacle unfolds just weeks before voters determine the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term, with party strategists privately admitting the midterms are an uphill battle. Trump’s abysmal approval ratings and the growing discomfort among some Republicans have led to quiet distancing from the Trump spectacle, though few dare to speak out openly.
“It’s hard to imagine politics without him,” said Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, reflecting the party’s dependency on a figure whose tenure has been marked by bigotry, corruption, and attacks on democracy. Yet, even Schlapp acknowledges the GOP must eventually reckon with a post-Trump reality.
The convention was a shrine to Trumpism, with his red hats, endless merchandise, and even a gaudy golden statue reminiscent of authoritarian iconography. Artist Jon McNaughton, infamous for his sycophantic Trump paintings, compared the ex-president to Washington and Lincoln—a grotesque rewriting of history that ignores Trump’s divisive and destructive record.
Trump, ever obsessed with his own legacy, told New York Magazine his Washington projects are meant to cement his mark, as if monuments could erase the chaos he sowed. At a recent event, he pleaded for validation: “Will you please remember that I did it?”
Insiders admit Trump will try to handpick his successor, with names like JD Vance and Marco Rubio floated—both of whom have bent the knee to Trumpism. Veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye warned against assuming Trump will fade into irrelevance, a testament to the party’s inability to break free from his toxic influence.
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer gushed about Trump’s ability to draw crowds, ignoring the dangerous cult of personality at play. The convention also highlighted cracks in the facade: Trump skipped this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, allowing other voices to surface, though his absence was palpable.
Looking ahead, Trump’s political machine plans a nationwide blitz of over 30 rallies in battleground states. The MAGA Inc. super PAC, flush with $400 million, has already funneled $10 million into propping up far-right Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Party chairman Joe Gruters boasted that Trump “completely transformed what the Republican Party is,” a chilling reminder of the party’s slide into extremism.
This gathering laid bare the GOP’s continued dependence on Trump’s cult of personality and the strategic contortions required to appease him, even as the party faces a reckoning over its future and leadership.