Trump centers himself in Republican midterm convention ahead of November elections
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President Donald Trump addressed the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, pledging to campaign in key races and urging supporters to imagine him on the ballot, while GOP leaders highlighted fundraising and candidate challenges.
President Donald Trump delivered the keynote address at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, positioning himself as a central figure in the upcoming November elections despite not being a candidate. He told the crowd, "When I’m on the ticket, Republicans always do very well. But for some reason, when a president wins… even if he’s a really good or great president, they don’t win the midterms. We’re gonna change that. So I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot," and added that the party could win every competitive race he targets.
Trump said he would travel to each of the roughly 35 battleground states to support congressional and Senate candidates and promised rallies similar to the Dallas event. He also floated a pledge to give a $5,000 payment to all adult citizens if Republicans retain control of both chambers, though the legality of such a promise was not clarified.
The convention, the first of its kind outside a presidential election year, featured speeches from GOP officials and candidates in tight races, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Representative Monica de la Cruz, and Senator Mike Collins. Paxton, who trails Democratic challenger James Talarico in polls, received a personal endorsement from Trump, who described him as the "greatest attorney general in America."
Speakers emphasized traditional Republican themes such as immigration enforcement, tax cuts, and opposition to what they characterized as left-wing extremism. Representative Brandon Gill framed the election as a choice between "mainstream versus the extreme," referencing Democratic Socialist-aligned candidates.
Analysts noted that the party faces a difficult midterm outlook. A non-partisan forecast recently listed the Senate as a toss-up and projected a Democratic advantage in the House. In Texas, polls show Talarico narrowing the gap with Paxton, suggesting limited impact from Trump’s endorsement.
The event also touched on foreign policy, with Trump asserting that the United States is "winning" the conflict with Iran and proposing to rename the Strait of Hormuz the "Trump Strait." No other speakers addressed the war directly.
Overall, the convention served both as a rally for Trump’s base and a fundraising hub, with political scientists noting Texas’s role as a major source of GOP campaign cash.