Speaking on the convention's first night, Trump delivered a historically long, two-hour address in which he promised every adult US citizen a $5,000 dividend if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate. 'If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,' Trump told the crowd at the American Airlines Center, claiming the payment was possible because of the nation's economic strength. He also attacked Democrats as 'radical communists' and defended his unpopular war in Iran.
On the second night, Vance echoed Trump's themes, calling Democrats 'lunatics,' dismissing a protester waving a Mexican flag, and making exaggerated claims of the administration's success. The vice president's speech was widely seen as a bid to position himself as Trump's heir for a potential 2028 run.
The convention, the first of its kind by a major party in more than four decades, was intended to boost enthusiasm among Republican voters two months before the midterm elections. But its staging came as Trump’s approval rating hovers near 38%, and a number of GOP candidates in competitive races chose to stay away. According to a survey conducted before the event by Politico, many of the more than 70 candidates contacted either did not plan to attend or were undecided, citing prior commitments, personal conflicts, or concerns about appearing alongside the polarizing president.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune attended, as did senators from key battleground states such as Michigan’s Mike Rogers and Ohio’s Jon Husted. But several vulnerable incumbents, including Reps. Tom Barrett (Michigan), Zach Nunn (Iowa), and Rob Bresnahan (Pennsylvania), were absent. Barrett said he felt 'more useful in my district.'
The event at the Dallas arena saw empty seats in the audience, according to NPR, and protesters gathered outside the venue. The Republican strategy of centering the convention on Trump—despite his low approval numbers and the ongoing backlash over rising prices and the Iran war—underscores the party’s challenge in holding its House majority this November.