President Donald Trump will appear on both nights of the Republican National Committee’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas, taking the stage twice as the GOP uses the two-day gathering to promote its candidates and agenda ahead of the November elections. The convention is scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10 at the American Airlines Center.
Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on both nights of the convention, with the president giving the keynote address on the second night. Vice President JD Vance is slated to deliver the keynote on the opening night, according to the convention’s current official schedule.
The president had already indicated in August that he planned to attend the entire event, saying he would be there both nights “and rarin’ to go.”
The gathering, which RNC Chairman Joe Gruters has dubbed a “Trump-a-palooza,” features more than 100 scheduled items and speakers. The program includes appearances by candidates running in closely watched races as well as sessions focused on issues including congressional stock trading, immigration enforcement, taxes, health care, education and differences between the Republican and Democratic agendas.
A number of prominent administration officials and Republican leaders are also expected to participate, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Karoline Leavitt. Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming are among other Republicans slated to take part.
Several other prominent Republicans are expected to skip the gathering. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Mike Rounds of South Dakota are among those not attending, with Tuberville and Rounds remaining on the campaign trail in their respective states, according to Newsweek.
Reports have also indicated that some House Republicans decided against attending because of an alleged RNC fundraising requirement of at least $25,000 for lawmakers, with the top level reportedly set at $100,000. Neither President Trump nor convention organizers have confirmed that lawmakers are required to pay or raise money in order to attend.
Democrats, meanwhile, are planning their own events in Texas while Republicans gather in Dallas. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York announced Friday that four Democratic House members would travel to the city to present their party’s competing message.
“Americans are being crushed by rising costs. Republicans don’t care—they’re in Dallas, celebrating an out of touch President whose tariffs and wars are making things worse. We’re going to hold them accountable,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said on the social platform X.
Crow is expected to be joined by Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California. The lawmakers are planning to work with the Texas Democratic Party and local groups on events timed to coincide with the Republican convention.
NewsNation reported Sunday that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder are also among the Democrats planning events in the state during the GOP gathering.
The convention comes as both parties focus heavily on Texas, where Republicans are seeking to retain a Senate seat in a race between Paxton and Talarico. The state also became the first to redraw its congressional districts in Republicans’ favor after President Trump called for new maps.
Democratic-led states have responded with redistricting efforts of their own, most prominently in California. In Maryland, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Democratic-backed redistricting referendum may appear on the November ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to approve the proposed congressional map.
{Matzav.com}
