President Donald Trump returned to the stage on the second and final night of the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday, imploring the crowd to “go out and vote” to save his party’s majorities in Congress.
Trump praised his own Vice President JD Vance, who delivered a keynote speech that was closely watched as potentially teeing up a post-Trump future. Although Vance has not said whether he will run for the White House and Trump has yet to name an heir apparent, the crowd roared “JD! JD!” when he stepped to the microphone.
“It is pretty cool to hear a crowd that is this fired up chant your name, so go ahead and do it again,” Vance said, and the audience obliged.
The president organized the convention in hopes of energizing supporters who often turn out for Trump but not for other candidates.
“You got to do me the biggest favor you’ve ever done,” Trump told the crowd. “You’ve got to do this for me.”
At one point, he led the crowd in a repeat-after-me pledge to vote on Nov. 3.
Vance delivered searing criticism of Democrats, calling them “the party of hatred.” And even though Republicans have faced their own rifts over Trump’s war in Iran and other issues, he urged them to remain united for the midterms.
“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 rallying their voters in the midterms, while some are also thinking about the next presidential election two years away.
With Republican control of Congress at risk this November and the next presidential election two years away, voters are still assessing their options.
“We’ve got a deep bench,” said Bruce Johnston, 62, who drove 29 hours with his son from Delaware to be in Dallas. “I mean, you’ve got a lot of good candidates. I’d pick any of those for the primary. And we’ll get a good one.”
His son, Anthony, 33, said he believes Vance is being groomed as Trump’s successor.
“No one’s Trump,” he said. “But I like him a lot.”
Republicans face a potential reckoning this fall. They are struggling to bolster enthusiasm for congressional candidates and laboring to overcome voters’ concerns about the economy and the war with Iran. While many Republicans skipped the confab at American Airlines Center, others still see solidarity with Trump as their best shot at winning, despite the president’s low approval rating.
Democrats offer counterprogramming, protests held outside AAC
House Democrats, in Texas for a second day of counterprogramming, blasted the Republicans’ convention as an opulent spectacle 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,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. “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 down streets, but were stopped by police from getting too close to the site.
State Rep. James Talarico, who is running against Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate in November, launched a statewide “Love Thy Neighbor” food drive as counterprogramming to the RNC event. Talarico’s campaign said they collected “more than 20,000 pounds of groceries for middle-class Texans struggling with the high price of groceries.” The campaign said that more than 60,000 volunteers made donations at 30 sites across 26 counties in the state.
“In just three days, our Love Thy Neighbor Grocery Drive has brought together thousands of people across the state,” said Talarico. “While corrupt politicians and their billionaire mega-donors pay $20,000 for a ticket into a Billionaire Ball, I’m proud to announce our campaign has collected over 20,000 pounds of groceries for working Texans. That’s real relief for Texas families who’ve been screwed over by corrupt politicians raising the price of everything.”
Who spoke on Day 2 of the convention?
Republicans opened the second and final day of their midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday, knowing that history is not on their side this election season, but counting on President Donald Trump to propel voters to protect their House and Senate majorities.
Republicans spent two consecutive nights denouncing Democrats as extremists, and Trump capped Wednesday with a speech saying the choice this election is “very, very simple” and making the outlandish promise of $5,000 to each American adult if his party wins. Such a proposal could cost more than $1 trillion at a time when the nation faces a record $40 trillion debt.
Thursday’s lineup included many of the same themes as Wednesday and included a keynote address by Vice President JD Vance and closing remarks by Trump, who earlier in the day signed legislation approving the location of the National Medal of Honor Monument on the National Mall.
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT
- RNC Chairman Joe Gruters
- Heather Washburne, President of the Host Committee
- Pastor Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor at the First Baptist Church Dallas
- Laurie Buckhout, Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 1st congressional district
- Everyday American, Law-Enforcement Veteran, Father, and Working-Class Advocate
- Missouri Rep. Jason Smith & Pennsylvania Rep. Ryan Mackenzie
- Greg Cunningham, Republican nominees for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district
- Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT
- Marty O’Donnell, Republican nominee for Nevada’s 3rd congressional district
- Everyday American, Mother, Conservative Grassroots Leader, and MAHA Advocate
- Derek Merrin, Republican nominee for Ohio’s 9th congressional district
- Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain, House Republican Conference Chair
- Rep. Richard Hudson, NRCC Chair
- Eric Flores, Republican nominee for Texas’ 34th congressional district
- Tano Tijerina, Republican nominee for Texas’ 28th congressional district
- Georgia Rep. Brian Jack
- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT
- House Speaker Mike Johnson
- Tribute to Charlie Kirk
- Mike Rogers, U.S. Senate candidate from Michigan
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT
- New York Rep. Mike Lawler, joined by Angel Parents
- Tribute to 25th Observance of Sept. 11th
- Frank Siller, CEO of Tunnel to Towers
- Everyday American, father, truck Driver and Roadway-Safety Advocate
7 p.m. to 8 p.m. CT
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson
- Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
- Everyday American, manufacturer, small-business owner and job creator
- Donald Trump Jr.
8 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT
- Vice President JD Vance
- President Donald Trump
During a speech at the Republican midterm convention, President Donald Trump said that if his party wins the midterm elections, every U.S. adult would receive $5,000. Trump did not explain how this dividend would be paid or where the money would come from and has previously made similar promises in the past that did not materialize.
Republicans are showcasing accomplishments and eyeing 2028
Vance’s keynote offered hints about his political aspirations, as he spoke about his own family, his wife, Usha, who recently gave birth to their third child, and his vision for the country, which closely aligns with Trump’s.
When a protester with a Mexican flag interrupted his speech, Vance won an extended uproar of approval with his response.
“Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your a— over there. I’ll buy you a plane ticket,” he said.
We got to send a message this November,” Vance said. “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 also serves as the Republican National Committee’s finance chair, raised $2 million for the party earlier Thursday at a fundraiser in Dallas, according to a person familiar with the event who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Trump is also deploying his cash in key midterm races. No Going Back PAC Inc., which, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, is connected to Trump’s MAGA Inc., has reserved more than $68 million for advertising. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the funding arrangement.
The second night of the convention showcased some of the most electorally endangered Republicans in Congress and those challenging Democrats in tough races, as well as another potential presidential hopeful: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who railed against liberal Democrats.
Coming on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the evening solemnly marked that moment. It also produced a video tribute to Charlie Kirk, who co-founded the conservative group Turning Point USA. He was assassinated one year ago.
“His voice has only grown louder,” said Lucas Miles, a pastor and vice president at Turning Point. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., drew chants of “USA!” as he honored Kirk and criticized Democrats.
At one point, Rep. Mike Lawler, who is fighting to win reelection in New York, appeared on stage with the family of Sheridan Gorman, who presented a “buddy bench” for Congress to sit together. She was fatally shot in Chicago and officials have charged a man they say was illegally in the country.
In a lighter moment, Marty O’Donnell, a composer who is challenging a House Democrat in Nevada, got the crowd to sing along to the earworm jingle he wrote for Flintstones vitamins.
The night’s themes delved into what House Speaker Mike Johnson calls the “Contrast for America,” as Republicans showcased what they call their “Big Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and spending cuts and warned of a bleak future if Democrats take control.
The campaign slogan is a throwback to another Republican leader, Newt Gingrich, who offered a Contract with America. This time, rather than presenting a detailed list of priorities, Republicans are quick to portray all Democrats as in line with their most liberal candidates, some backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, and focused 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.”
President Donald Trump spoke Wednesday night from the Republican midterm convention, warning that a Democrat majority would send the U.S. “back into the dark ages.”
Trump hopes the convention will help GOP buck historical trends
With the Republican majorities in the House and Senate both at risk this fall, the president’s agenda for his final two years in office is also at stake. The margins in Congress are expected to be narrow, with a few seats in a shrunken map of competitive races determining the outcome.
Presidents past have acknowledged their midterm losses — Barack Obama called his 2010 setbacks a “shellacking,” George W. Bush labeled his a “thumping.”
But Trump often refuses to accept defeat, including his false claims that he, rather than Joe Biden, won the 2020 election. One of the many people he pardoned for their actions in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, former Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, appeared at the convention.
Trump on Wednesday said that in this election, “all that matters is that we are united.”
He predicted 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.”
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Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont and Jamie Stengle in Dallas, Will Weissert, Steven Sloan, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, JJ Cooper in Phoenix, Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
