President Donald Trump is set to kick off the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention with a pair of speeches spanning both nights of the Texas confab, even as GOP candidates in close races avoid the entire spectacle.
Trump is scheduled to depart the White House this afternoon for the two-day event in Dallas, where he will first participate in a fundraiser for his MAGA Inc. Super PAC before heading to the convention itself.
He will then deliver what has been billed as a keynote address at 9:15 pm ET.
Trump will return to the convention on Thursday, where he will also deliver closing remarks after a planned speech by Vice President JD Vance.
The president’s appearance at the highly unusual off-year convention contrasts with the 45 or so Republican elected officials and candidates in close races who are snubbing the gathering and focusing on their own campaigns instead.
Republicans are hoping to generate enthusiasm among potential voters and bring in money for the GOP – in part by charging donors $88,600 for a photo with Trump.
One House Republican told Politico the midterm convention was a “waste of time” and said planning had been “a mess.”
The event is also meant to raise money for Republicans fighting tough races, such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is trying to defeat Democratic candidate James Talerico in the Senate race.
The RNC reportedly asked sitting House members to spend $25,000 for themselves and a guest to attend the two-day event or $100,000 for a higher tier.
But the event’s timing has also raised eyebrows, given Day 2 happens the day before the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and as Trump’s approval rating remains at historic lows in recent polls.
On top of that, the first night will compete with the opening game of the NFL regular season, when the Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to face the New England Patriots in a first-ever Wednesday night season opener. The game is expected to draw a substantial television audience, potentially diverting cable, streaming and online viewers from the GOP event. NFL games are typically among the top-viewed programs in the U.S. every year and few programs top even regular season games.
The list of speakers is largely taken up by members of Trump's Cabinet like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Also set to address the crowd are Attorney General Todd Blanche, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, as well as Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton and Mike Rogers, the party's Senate nominee in Michigan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are also giving speeches.
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