The Republican National Committee's inaugural midterm convention kicked off Wednesday in Dallas, and it did not disappoint the faithful who came to see the party's leader. The two-day event, dubbed "Trump-a-palooza" by critics and supporters alike, featured the former president's image plastered on walls throughout the American Airlines Center—from Oval Office scenes to his defiant pose in Butler, Pa.—and a merchandise stand hawking "Make America Great Again" caps.
For many attendees, the draw was singular. "Trump," said Amy Osterman, an Illinois first-timer, when asked what she anticipated. "I'm just excited to get reenergized for the midterms. Like, let's go. We need to do this."
The outsized attention on Trump, who is not on any ballot this November, comes as some Republicans privately worry about aligning too closely with a president whose approval ratings remain underwater. Several vulnerable lawmakers from battleground states skipped the event, according to a Politico survey that found more than half of GOP candidates and lawmakers planned to stay away.
Trump, however, urged Republicans to "pretend that I'm on the ballot" and dangled a $5,000 "Trump dividend" for every American adult if the GOP retains control of Congress. "We have to have Congress. We have to have the majorities. If we don't have the majorities, so much can be lost," he said, framing the election as a referendum on his agenda.
The president and other speakers leaned heavily into warnings about a Democratic takeover. "If we hand America's future to the radical left Democrats… our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet," Trump said, calling it "a tragedy." Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins echoed that sentiment, claiming the "ideals of 1776" are "under threat" and that Democrats would "immediately" reopen the border.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) went further, blasting progressive Democrats, some of whom are DSA members, as "communists." "To the American people listening, I say, if all you want out of life is what little these communists are offering, I guess that's your right. Or you can join Donald J. Trump and Republicans, and have the opportunity to realize your greatest dreams," Emmer said.
Even a Democrat made a surprise appearance, albeit on video. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) introduced his Republican colleague Sen. Dave McCormick, saying, "I'm always going to reject the extremes in socialism and that anti-American way of life." The move drew attention given Fetterman's party loyalty, but he reaffirmed his caucus membership afterward.
The convention—the first by a major party outside a presidential election year—comes as the GOP's midterm outlook worsens. Cook Political Report last week suggested a "nightmare scenario" for Republicans is now the most likely outcome, with Decision Desk HQ forecasting a Democratic edge in the House and a near-toss-up Senate.
Trump's approval rating sits at roughly 39%, about 18 points underwater, and Democrats hold a 7-point lead on the generic ballot, according to DDHQ's polling average. Against that backdrop, party leaders hope the event will energize the base. But the optics have raised eyebrows, as high-profile absentees like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) stayed away.
Despite sparse seating in the 20,000-capacity arena, Trump described the crowd as "packed." The RNC did not provide attendance figures. Still, attendees like Steve Novak, who traveled from Minnesota, and Rosie Swanson, a Texan at her first GOP convention, said Trump was the main attraction. "I would've come from anywhere," Swanson said.
Meanwhile, Democrats used the gathering as a counterprogramming opportunity, with House Democrats and Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico holding events of their own to highlight their message ahead of November.
