Republicans put Trump centre stage at Dallas midterm convention

Republicans opened their Dallas midterm convention by elevating Donald Trump and attacking Democrats as extremists. The show of loyalty underlined how central Trump remains to turnout plans despite economic unease and the Iran war.Republicans used the opening night of their two-day midterm convention in Dallas to attack Democrats as extremists and to underline their support for President Donald Trump, putting him at the centre of the party's campaign for November. The event came as Republicans tried to lift enthusiasm in the run-up to Election Day amid voters' economic concerns and dissatisfaction over the war in Iran.The gathering, which was part rally and part fundraiser, also reflected the party's calculation that Trump's support remains central even in a year when he is not on the ballot. While several Republicans, including some fighting close contests, chose to stay away, others attended in the hope of reaching Trump's supporters. At the same time, Trump's political operation began a major new spending push through No Going Back PAC Inc, which has reserved USD 49 million in six competitive Senate races and one competitive House race. That is in addition to the USD 10 million spent by MAGA Inc in the Texas Senate race.Much of the convention's opening agenda was aimed at portraying Democrats as too far left, with speakers describing them as communists, anti-American or even evil. Republicans presented themselves as a "common sense" alternative as they sought to hold control of Congress. The opening night also got an unexpected contribution from Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who said in a video message, "I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism." Referring to Pennsylvania's steel industry, he also said he would "work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life".The convention itself was heavily centred on Trump. Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters asked the crowd, "Do we love President Trump?" and had earlier described the event as "a Trump-a-Palooza". The walls of the basketball arena where the Dallas Mavericks play were lined with photographs of Trump, including in the lifts, while many attendees wore cowboy hats, boots, "Make America Great Again" caps and American flag gear. Before boarding Air Force One for Dallas, Trump said of the gathering crowd, "Looks very big. Looks very exciting." During the first hour of the afternoon programme, however, many seats, including those close to the stage, were empty, though the crowd grew well before he spoke. Trump was scheduled to speak on both nights, giving a keynote address on Wednesday and returning on Thursday after Vice President JD Vance's speech.Trump also commented on oil prices, which have risen because of the Iran war. He said prices were likely to fall only after the midterms, adding, "Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward." Oil prices rose more than 3 per cent on Wednesday. Ray Washburne, co-chair of the Dallas host committee, said at a Bloomberg News event before the convention, "Look, he's an entertainer, right? He obviously loves big, big events and his career has been built around that. He's always front and centre." Washburne said around 30,000 people were expected across both nights, though he acknowledged the challenge of competing for attention with the start of the NFL season on Wednesday and another game in Australia on Thursday. The speakers' list also included members of the Republican congressional leadership and Cabinet, among them Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, along with Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Candidates due to speak included Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who is running against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, and North Carolina Senate nominee Michael Whatley, who is contesting against former governor Roy Cooper. Organisers planned 12 hours of programming over two nights with more than 100 speakers and segments on tax cuts, fraud allegations, border security and a proposed ban on members of Congress trading stocks. There was no mention of the unpopular Iran war in the public agenda.House Speaker Mike Johnson said some Republican lawmakers would skip Dallas to remain at home and campaign for re-election, though many were expected to appear. "We'll parade our stars across the stage," he said. Some Republicans also objected to the cost, with House members being asked to pay USD 25,000 for convention tickets and lodging, according to people familiar with the arrangement. Overall, Republicans used the opening night to rally supporters around Trump, sharpen their attacks on Democrats and push their midterm message as the campaign entered its final stretch.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 10, 2026 06:20 IST