Republicans may be bracing for a rough November, but you wouldn't know it inside Dallas' American Airlines Center. The GOP's rare midterm convention was playing more like a President Trump-focused sequel to 2024, from a velvet-jacketed tenor singing "America the Beautiful" to corridors plastered with giant images of the president—including one highlighting his bandaged ear after the assassination attempt. Credentials bore Trump's face, red caps declared "Trump Was Right About Everything!" and attendees freely admitted they were there for one person whose name won't appear on the midterm ballot, the New York Times reports.
Outside the arena, GOP election prospects remain uncertain; inside, party officials called Trump their "best messenger," even as candidates in tight races steered clear of unpopular policy details. The convention mixed glitz (sequined cowboy hats, luxe hotel powwows, RNC meetings amid elephant statues) with rough edges: blurry posters, thin early crowds that needed coaching to cheer, and empty seats even during Trump's speech on Wednesday night—despite his plea that no one "go to the bathroom." Outside, protesters chanting "say it loud, say it clear, Donald Trump's not welcome here" marched but were stopped by police from getting close to the arena, per the AP.
With Republican control of Congress at risk this November and the next presidential election two years away, conventiongoers did look ahead. Bruce Johnston, 62, who drove 29 hours with his son from Delaware, said the party has a lot of good candidates for the next presidential election. "And we'll get a good one," he said. His son, Anthony, 33, said he believes Vice President JD Vance is being groomed as Trump's successor. "No one's Trump," he said. "But I like him a lot." But they're not finished with the current president yet. Attendees asked whom they wanted to see did not hesitate, per the Times. "Obviously, President Trump," said Alexandria Hughes of the US Virgin Islands. "Because he's always so much fun."
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
