Trump places himself at center of Republican midterm convention in Dallas

September 10, 2026 at 08:01 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

President Donald Trump delivered a keynote speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, urging voters to 'pretend that I'm on the ballot' for the November elections. He promised to campaign in about 35 competitive races and pledged a $5,000 'dividend' to all adult citizens if Republicans keep control of Congress. The speech came as Republicans face a tough midterm battle to hold the House and Senate.

Key Facts

Trump spoke at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on the first night of the Republican midterm convention.
He said he would campaign in about 35 of the most competitive House and Senate races.
Trump pledged a $5,000 'dividend' to all adult citizens if Republicans maintain control of both chambers.
Vice President JD Vance was initially set to headline the first night but was replaced by Trump for undisclosed reasons.
Brent Crude oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time in July as the war on Iran entered its seventh month.

Convention Speech

Trump addressed a friendly crowd at the American Airlines Center, telling them, 'When I'm on the ticket, Republicans always do very well.' He acknowledged that presidents typically lose midterm elections and said, 'We're gonna change that.' Trump asked the audience to 'pretend that I'm on the ballot' for the November vote. The convention was scheduled to continue into a second night on Thursday.

Campaign Promises

Trump said he would visit every one of the roughly 35 competitive states for congressional and Senate candidates. He promised to hold rallies similar to the Dallas event in those states. Some Republican candidates chose to campaign in their own districts rather than attend the Dallas convention. Trump pledged a $5,000 'dividend' to all adult citizens if Republicans maintain control of both chambers, though the legality of the promise was unclear.

War on Iran

The war on Iran, launched by Trump alongside Israel on February 28, has become a major political liability heading into the midterms. Brent Crude oil topped more than $100 a barrel for the first time in July as the war ground into its seventh month. Polls have suggested widespread disapproval of the war and its knock-on economic effects.