President Trump Dominates GOP’s First-Ever Midterm Convention as some Stay Away
Organizers are using free-ticket lotteries and donor access packages as at least 45 Republicans and lawmakers skip the event.
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump claimed the two-day "Trump-A-Palooza" convention was sold out, asserting "everyone wants to be there" despite organizers' aggressive efforts to fill the 21,000-seat Dallas arena.
- To boost attendance, the Republican National Committee is offering "FREE TICKETS" through lotteries and text messages, a contrast to the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which drew an estimated 50,000 attendees.
- At least 45 Republican candidates and lawmakers plan to skip the event, while donors face steep costs including $88,600 for photos with Trump; critics online dismissed the push as a "Hard pass."
- Despite the absences, "Trump-A-Palooza" will feature more than 100 speakers, including Vice President Vance, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Senate Majority Leader John Thune is notably absent.
- Designed to rally Republicans before November midterm elections, the convention is positioned as a show of party strength, though RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre's expectation of a "spectacular showing" faces scrutiny over actual enthusiasm.
40 Articles
40 Articles
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Donald Trump was asked a simple question about Republicans skipping his new midterm convention in Dallas. His response quickly turned personal. As Trump prepared to leave for the two-day GOP gathering Wednesday, ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked him about Republican lawmakers and candidates in competitive races who had decided not to […]
NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (Sept. 9)
NTD is on the ground giving live coverage at the first-of-its-kind 2026 midterm Republican National Convention in Dallas with President Donald Trump taking the stage both nights for a keynote address. Trump will be joined by other members of his administration, party leaders, and Republican candidates, including Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxto…
GOP Lawmakers Skip Trump's Dallas Convention Despite Sellout
President Trump is headlining the GOP's first-ever midterm convention at Dallas's American Airlines Center this week, but dozens of Republican lawmakers have opted to stay home, citing steep ticket prices and competitive races back in their districts. The two-day event, billed as a massive show of party unity ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, […]
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