President Trump headlined the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. He told the crowd to act as if he were on the ballot so he can “finish the job.” Inside the American Airlines Center, which hosts the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the event occurred.
Trump laid out a clear plan for what happens if Republicans keep control of Congress. He promised to end surprise medical billing and slash credit card fees. He also vowed to stop state-level cashless bail policies and apply the death penalty to large-scale drug dealers.
The president warned that a loss would hurt American families directly. “I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot — just one more time, because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security, you’re going to lose your wealth,” he said.
A Rally for the Base
The party is putting the president front and center. He was called the best showman in politics and the top vote-getter for low-propensity voters.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles confirmed the strategy is to campaign hard again. “I haven’t quite broken it to him yet, but he’s going to campaign like it’s 2024 again,” Wiles told the Washington Examiner. She noted that over 20,000 tickets have already been given out for the event.
Trump spoke about the Iran conflict and how a Republican win could change things. He predicted the war would end soon after the Nov. 3 vote.
What Comes Next
The two-day conference features dozens of speakers and Trump on both nights. He delivered the keynote address on Wednesday and will return Thursday evening to close out the convention. The Washington Examiner reported he will appear center stage at the 20,000-person-capacity venue at least twice.
RNC press secretary Natalie Baldassarre said the election is about common sense versus craziness.
Last week, Trump was central to MAGA Inc.’s first super PAC ad purchase of the election cycle. The spend totaled $1 million. He also joked about renaming New Mexico “New America” and the Strait of Hormuz after himself during the speech.
The convention wraps up with Trump providing the closing remarks. No further dates are set for his next major public appearance. The ticket demand remains high as voters continue to ask for more seats.
