Politics 4 min read By Alice Ashford
Trump turns Republican convention into personal referendum ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump is set to dominate the Republican convention in Dallas this week, using the event to rally his base for the midterm elections while attacking Democrats as communists. The convention comes seven months into the Iran War, with Republicans facing tough races and Trump's approval at historic lows.
President Donald Trump is set to dominate the Republican convention opening in Dallas this week, turning the event into a personal referendum on his record as his party fights to hold Congress in the November midterm elections. The president, who conceived the gathering and planned nearly every detail, will take the stage on both nights, delivering a keynote address Wednesday and closing remarks after Vice President JD Vance speaks on Thursday.
The convention comes seven months into the Iran War, with Republicans facing stiff political headwinds. Trump has sought to rally his core supporters by framing the election as a choice about his presidency, telling a recent South Carolina rally, «Pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot.» His midterm message has focused on his administration's record, including border enforcement, tax cuts for tipped and overtime workers, Social Security benefit reductions, and efforts to lower prescription drug prices.
Trump has also escalated his rhetoric against Democrats, accusing the party of embracing communism. «Communism is an INHUMAN ideology that has led to DEATH and DESTRUCTION around the World!» he posted on his social media platform. The attack line comes after progressive candidates notched key primary wins, which Trump argues leaves Democrats too far left for the general election.
The Republican Party has embraced the president's cowboy-themed branding, selling $16 beer cozies online depicting the 80-year-old on horseback wearing a white Stetson, with the word «Dallas» replacing the cigarette maker's logo. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who will address the convention, said the gathering was Trump's idea and should be «very instructive, very exciting,» adding, «We'll parade our stars across the stage.»
Yet strategists question whether the convention will deliver the boost Republicans need. Rick Tyler, a Republican strategist and Trump critic, warned that the president's presence could overshadow vulnerable lawmakers. «If Trump is in the orbit then everything gets swallowed up into a black hole. It's just unavoidable,» he said. Tyler argued that rallies and generalized attacks on Democrats are not what Republicans need, saying, «Trump can turn out two bases, his base and the Democratic base. The problem for him is, when he's not on the ballot, his base never shows up and they're unlikely to again.»
MAGA Inc., Trump's political organisation with a war chest of nearly $400 million, has announced it will spend $10 million on television and digital advertisements in the Texas Senate race. That marks the first serious use of its resources, even as Republicans face tight races nationwide. A separate group, Securing American Greatness, has begun airing ads touting Trump's record, though the videos barely mention Congress.
Texas has emerged as a key battleground. Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary, propelling him to victory over incumbent Senator John Cornyn despite Paxton's years of scandals. Democrat James Talarico is now seeking an upset in a state where Democrats have not won statewide office since 1994, the nation's longest losing streak. Having the convention in Dallas «definitely sends a signal that they're scared about Texas,» said Abel Prado, a campaign strategist.
Democrats remain sceptical of the convention's impact. Representative Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said, «I'm not sure what they're doing. They don't have a message, they have nothing to say. So, I think that will be even more clear.» Major broadcast networks have not committed to televising most of the convention, and the proceedings will compete with the NFL season kickoff, including games likely running during both of Trump's speeches.
