The first-ever Republican Party convention ahead of the midterm elections began in Dallas, Texas, with the first day ending with a nearly two-hour speech by President Donald Trump. Previously, the party, like its political rivals, held such events only during presidential election years.
Trump called for a convention in June, after which the Republican National Committee (RNC) changed the schedule and set the event for September 9-10. Elections for the US House of Representatives, as well as for a third of the Senate seats, will be held on November 3. They are called intermediate due to the fact that they fall in the middle of the current president's term.
At the beginning of his speech, Trump joked that he “should boast” of his three presidential victories in Texas and called for voting Republican in November, imagining that his name was again on the ballot. Research has actually previously shown that Republican turnout in elections increases when there is an opportunity to vote for Trump.
“I ask you to imagine that I am on the ballot, I am on the ballot. One more time. If we lose, you will lose your border, your tax breaks, your security and your prosperity,” the US President said.
Trump emphasized that thanks to the Republican candidate for the US Senate from Texas, former Attorney General Ken Paxton, the state has a wall on the border with Mexico. At the same time, he jokingly acknowledged opponents' criticism of Paxton's appearance.
“He will later tell me: “Sir, you shouldn’t have said that, you’re giving them quotes.” But let me tell you – it's true that he probably doesn't dress well, doesn't speak very well, and isn't the best-looking guy I've ever seen. But you know what? He is the greatest Attorney General in US history and deserves to be your next Senator. Sorry, Ken,” Trump said.
$5,000 payment to every American
If the Republicans retain their majority in Congress, Trump also announced a “dividend” of $5,000 for every adult American. The president compared it to paying the military $1,776 in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Previously, the president promised similar “dividends” in connection with an increase in trade duties against foreign partners, as well as an expected reduction in budget expenditures in connection with the work of Elon Musk’s DOGE department. They were never paid.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) notes that these types of initiatives require Congressional approval as they relate to the federal budget. Trump’s new idea could theoretically cost the state $1 trillion, the publication calculated.
As the newspaper adds, the bet on Trump, which Republicans continue to make, remains risky, as it could scare away nonpartisan voters in November. Traditionally, in midterm elections in the United States, the president's party loses ground.
Republicans managed to attract Democratic Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who in a video message to the convention called himself a “common sense Democrat” ready to work with Trump. However, the audience gathered at the American Airlines Center sports arena in Dallas reacted “restrainedly” to the performance, writes WSJ.
Another guest speaker on the first day was UFC fighter Justin Gaethje. He declared from the stage that he wanted to live “under a conservative form of government, in a free and capitalist society.”
“If we don't approach the vote with the same passion and determination to win as we did in the last presidential election, we're going to be knocked out,” said the athlete, whom Trump called “incredible” in his speech.
