Trump speaks at Republican midterm convention in Dallas

Republican leaders held a two-day midterm convention in Dallas from September 9 to 10, 2026. President Trump spoke for nearly two hours on the first night. He promised to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress. He called this the "Trump Dividend." The arena was filled with images of Trump, including on entry credentials. Some Democrats also attended to push back against Republican messages. Trump's approval rating is currently 38 percent, according to New York Times polling. Republican groups have hundreds of millions of dollars ready to spend before the midterm elections. Trump is popular with his core supporters, but his low approval rating makes it harder for the party to win over undecided voters.