Key facts
- Donald Trump urged supporters at the Republican midterm convention to treat the upcoming congressional elections as a referendum on him.
- Trump promised $5,000 payouts to every US adult if Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
- The convention featured speeches emphasizing Christian faith and conflating communism with threats from outside America's borders.
- Robert Kennedy Jr. praised Trump's intelligence, empathy, and courage.
- Attendees expressed concerns about the cost of living and the war in Iran.
- Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats are poised to capture the House of Representatives 229-206, with the Senate at 50-50.
Donald Trump sought to galvanize Republican support for the upcoming midterm elections by framing them as a referendum on his presidency during the party's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. He urged supporters to "pretend that I’m on the ballot" and promised $5,000 payouts to every US adult if Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
The convention, which featured fiery speeches and a strong emphasis on Trump's image, struggled to fill seats and drew a modest 2.5 million viewers on Fox News. Some attendees expressed discontent over the cost of living and the war in Iran, with some looking beyond Trump to potential successors in 2028. Despite Trump's efforts, his approval rating remains at a historic low, and the party faces foreboding omens for the midterms, with projections suggesting Democrats could capture the House and the Senate remains evenly split.
Speakers at the event, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and House Speaker Mike Johnson, warned of a "socialist hellscape" and framed the election as a choice between "common sense and crazy." Senator Ted Cruz of Texas warned of a "red-green alliance" of communists and Islamists within the Democratic party, singling out progressive figures by name. Robert Kennedy Jr., identified as the health secretary, praised Trump's intelligence and compassion. However, many speakers and attendees bypassed everyday concerns like inflation and the war in Iran, with some attendees like Gregorio Heise prioritizing national security over economic issues, while others, like Joseph Ditto, expressed frustration with the administration's foreign policy.