Trump urges Republican unity at Dallas convention before November midterms

Donald Trump and JD Vance used the Dallas convention to press Republicans to vote in November. The show of unity reflected the party's push to protect fragile congressional majorities despite economic and war concerns.Image used for representational purposes onlyUS President Donald Trump returned to the stage on Thursday for the second and final night of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, urging supporters to vote to protect the party's majorities in Congress. He used the event to press party unity ahead of the November election as Republicans try to lift enthusiasm for their congressional candidates.Trump also praised Vice President JD Vance, whose keynote speech was seen as an important moment as Republicans look beyond Trump, even though Vance has not said whether he will run for the White House and Trump has not named a successor. The crowd chanted "JD! JD!" as Vance came to the microphone.Trump had organised the convention to energise supporters who often vote for him but not always for other Republican candidates. "You got to do me the biggest favour you've ever done," he told the crowd. "You've got to do this for me." At one point, he led the audience in a repeat-after-me pledge to vote on November 3.Vance sharply attacked Democrats, calling them "the party of hatred", and appealed for Republican unity despite divisions within the party over Trump's war in Iran and other issues. "Don't give the country over to a bunch of crazy people because you happen to disagree with us on a policy issue here or there," he said. Republicans are trying to avoid the midterm losses that often hit the party in power, but they face concern among voters over the economy and the war with Iran. While many Republicans stayed away from the convention at the American Airlines Centre, others saw standing with Trump as their best chance despite his low approval rating. Over two nights, speakers repeatedly described Democrats as extremists. Trump capped Wednesday by promising USD 5,000 to each American adult if Republicans win, a proposal that could cost more than USD 1 trillion and was criticised by budget experts and some Republicans.House Democrats, in Texas for a second day of rival events, attacked the convention as a lavish show for an out-of-touch president. "As Donald Trump and JD Vance party away for two days, the average American family can't afford the groceries," Representative Robert Garcia of California said. "Donald Trump does not care about the average American family or about affordability." Protesters chanting "say it loud, say it clear, Donald Trump's not welcome here" marched through the streets, but police stopped them from getting too close to the venue. Vance's keynote also offered hints about his future ambitions as he spoke about his family, his wife Usha, who recently gave birth to their fourth child, and a vision for the country that closely matches Trump's. When a protester carrying a Mexican flag interrupted him, Vance replied, "Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your a** over there. I'll buy you a plane ticket," drawing a long round of applause. He then said, "We got to send a message this November. This country was handed down to us by our parents and their parents before them. We received this national birthright, and we are going to fight for it by electing Republicans this November."The vice president, who is also finance chair of the Republican National Committee, raised USD 2 million for the party at a Dallas fundraiser earlier in the day, according to a person familiar with the event who was not authorised to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump is also putting money into key midterm contests. No Going Back PAC Inc., which a person with knowledge of the situation said is linked to Trump's MAGA Inc., has reserved more than USD 68 million for advertising. That person was also not authorised to speak publicly about the arrangement.The second night featured some of the most vulnerable Republican members of Congress, candidates trying to unseat Democrats, and another possible presidential hopeful, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who criticised liberal Democrats. With the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks approaching, the event also marked the moment solemnly and included a video tribute to Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated a year ago. "His voice has only grown louder," said Lucas Miles, a pastor and vice president at Turning Point. Donald Trump Jr drew chants of "USA!" as he honoured Kirk and attacked Democrats.Representative Mike Lawler, who is seeking re-election in New York, appeared on stage with the family of Sheridan Gorman, who had presented a "buddy bench" for Congress to sit together. She was fatally shot in Chicago, and officials have charged a man they say was in the country illegally. In a lighter moment, Marty O'Donnell, a composer challenging a House Democrat in Nevada, got the crowd to sing the jingle he wrote for Flintstones vitamins.The evening's programme centred on what House Speaker Mike Johnson called the "Contrast for America", with Republicans promoting what they described as their "Big Beautiful Bill" of tax breaks and spending cuts, while warning of what they said would follow if Democrats won control. The slogan echoed Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America", but this time Republicans focused less on a detailed agenda and more on portraying Democrats as aligned with their most liberal candidates, including some backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, and as intent on investigating the Trump administration. "It truly is a contrast between common sense and crazy," Johnson said. "We cannot and we will not allow them to take the majority in Congress."With narrow House and Senate majorities at risk, the result in a reduced map of competitive races could decide Trump's agenda for the final two years of his term. The article noted that past presidents such as Barack Obama and George W Bush publicly acknowledged their midterm defeats, but Trump has often rejected defeat, including his false claims that he, rather than Joe Biden, won the 2020 election. Former Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, one of many people pardoned by Trump for their actions in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, appeared at the convention. Trump had said on Wednesday that "the great American majority is going to stand up and continue to Make America Great Again. And we will make our voices heard, perhaps like never before." The convention's final night underscored the Republican effort to rally behind Trump, showcase party leaders and push voters towards the November midterms.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 11, 2026 08:52 IST