‘A rally like none other’: Trump unveils 2026 Republican midterm convention
✓United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, signalling that a months-old idea may be close to coming to fruition.
“BIG NEWS! For the first time ever, the Republican Party will hold a MIDTERM CONVENTION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. “It has never been done before, and will be a truly Historic Event.”
But the rally, which is designed to showcase Republican achievements, is likely to have detractors, even among party officials.
Less than five months remain until the midterm elections on November 3. The convention itself will take place on September 9 and 10. Some critics fear a midterm convention could draw resources away from key battlegrounds in the final stretch of the race.
The convention would also shine a spotlight on Trump himself at a moment when his poll numbers are drooping. A poll published on Tuesday from The Economist magazine and the research firm YouGov found that 58 percent of respondents in the US disapproved of Trump’s job performance.
Still, Trump pitched the convention as an opportunity to trumpet the successes of his second term.
He pointed to his “no tax on tips” policy – which allows a tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips – and his policy of deregulating fossil fuels to establish “energy dominance”.
“Oil Prices are dropping sharply, even as we Denuclearize Iran,” Trump wrote. “We are delivering on the promises that politicians talked about for decades, but never got done.”
The event, he added, would also boast “great entertainment”, though details have yet to be provided.
“It will be a RALLY like none other! America’s 250th Birthday is approaching, and together, we are building the foundation for the NEXT 250 YEARS of American Greatness,” Trump said.
The idea of a midterm convention has been brewing among officials at least since September, when Trump posted on social media that such a rally could “show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024”.
Experts note that Trump has increasingly pushed to nationalise the midterm elections, placing himself at the centre of the race and seeking to exert federal control over state-level election administration.
Though Trump is not on the ballot in the 2026 midterms, the race is likely to be seen as a referendum on his second term so far.
The Republican Party currently holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. If it loses control in one or both chambers, that could present a legislative hurdle to advancing Trump’s priorities during the last two years of his term.
Trump has also expressed concern that he could be impeached for a third time if Congress flips to Democratic hands. He was already impeached twice in his first term.
“You’ve got to win the midterms because, if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump told Republicans in January. “I’ll be impeached.”
Party conventions are not typical of the midterm season. The Democratic Party used to hold such gatherings, but they petered out after 1982, with party leaders denouncing them as a waste of resources.
As Republicans revived the concept for 2026, the Democratic National Committee likewise explored the possibility, before dashing the prospect in March.
The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, approved a rule in January to allow for Trump’s midterm rally to be held. Normally, conventions are only held during presidential elections as a means of rallying support behind a single nominee.
Already, Democrats have started to take jabs at the Republican plan, comparing it with events like the Great American State Fair, which saw an exodus of performers amid concern about Trump’s participation.
“Donald Trump just announced a GOP midterm convention in September,” a campaign account associated with House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on social media. “Will Vanilla Ice be performing?”
Some critics noted that the rally’s location, Texas, is a Republican stronghold that may see an unusually competitive Senate race this year.
Democratic state Representative James Talarico is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the open Senate seat, after the Republican incumbent was defeated in a May primary race with Trump’s backing.
“No further proof is needed that the national and Texas GOP are freaking the f*** out than this: they’re not only holding their first-ever midterm convention, they’re holding it right here in our state,” state Representative Cassandra Garcia Hernandez wrote on social media.
“The battleground for our nation runs through Texas.”
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
President Trump confirmed that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention in Dallas on September 9-10, 2026, the first such event the party has organised outside a presidential election cycle. Trump framed it as showcasing Republican accomplishments, citing his tax-deduction policy for tips and fossil fuel deregulation. The convention will occur less than five months before the November midterm elections. Party leaders and analysts have raised concerns about resource allocation during the final campaign period and Trump's visibility at a time when public approval data shows 58 percent disapprove of his job performance. The Democratic National Committee explored but rejected a similar midterm convention in March. Midterm conventions were common practice for Democrats until 1982 but have since been abandoned. The Republican National Committee approved the rule change in January permitting the event. Some Democratic officials have questioned the decision's strategic value given Texas's status as a Republican stronghold with an emerging competitive Senate race.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, signalling that a months-old idea may be close to coming to fruition.
“BIG NEWS! For the first time ever, the Republican Party will hold a MIDTERM CONVENTION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. “It has never been done before, and will be a truly Historic Event.”
But the rally, which is designed to showcase Republican achievements, is likely to have detractors, even among party officials.
Less than five months remain until the midterm elections on November 3. The convention itself will take place on September 9 and 10. Some critics fear a midterm convention could draw resources away from key battlegrounds in the final stretch of the race.
The convention would also shine a spotlight on Trump himself at a moment when his poll numbers are drooping. A poll published on Tuesday from The Economist magazine and the research firm YouGov found that 58 percent of respondents in the US disapproved of Trump’s job performance.
Still, Trump pitched the convention as an opportunity to trumpet the successes of his second term.
He pointed to his “no tax on tips” policy – which allows a tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips – and his policy of deregulating fossil fuels to establish “energy dominance”.
“Oil Prices are dropping sharply, even as we Denuclearize Iran,” Trump wrote. “We are delivering on the promises that politicians talked about for decades, but never got done.”
The event, he added, would also boast “great entertainment”, though details have yet to be provided.
“It will be a RALLY like none other! America’s 250th Birthday is approaching, and together, we are building the foundation for the NEXT 250 YEARS of American Greatness,” Trump said.
The idea of a midterm convention has been brewing among officials at least since September, when Trump posted on social media that such a rally could “show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024”.
Experts note that Trump has increasingly pushed to nationalise the midterm elections, placing himself at the centre of the race and seeking to exert federal control over state-level election administration.
Though Trump is not on the ballot in the 2026 midterms, the race is likely to be seen as a referendum on his second term so far.
The Republican Party currently holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. If it loses control in one or both chambers, that could present a legislative hurdle to advancing Trump’s priorities during the last two years of his term.
Trump has also expressed concern that he could be impeached for a third time if Congress flips to Democratic hands. He was already impeached twice in his first term.
“You’ve got to win the midterms because, if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump told Republicans in January. “I’ll be impeached.”
Party conventions are not typical of the midterm season. The Democratic Party used to hold such gatherings, but they petered out after 1982, with party leaders denouncing them as a waste of resources.
As Republicans revived the concept for 2026, the Democratic National Committee likewise explored the possibility, before dashing the prospect in March.
The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, approved a rule in January to allow for Trump’s midterm rally to be held. Normally, conventions are only held during presidential elections as a means of rallying support behind a single nominee.
Already, Democrats have started to take jabs at the Republican plan, comparing it with events like the Great American State Fair, which saw an exodus of performers amid concern about Trump’s participation.
“Donald Trump just announced a GOP midterm convention in September,” a campaign account associated with House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on social media. “Will Vanilla Ice be performing?”
Some critics noted that the rally’s location, Texas, is a Republican stronghold that may see an unusually competitive Senate race this year.
Democratic state Representative James Talarico is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the open Senate seat, after the Republican incumbent was defeated in a May primary race with Trump’s backing.
“No further proof is needed that the national and Texas GOP are freaking the f*** out than this: they’re not only holding their first-ever midterm convention, they’re holding it right here in our state,” state Representative Cassandra Garcia Hernandez wrote on social media.
“The battleground for our nation runs through Texas.”
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Trump announced on Truth Social on Tuesday that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas on September 9-10, 2026 This will be the first-ever midterm convention held by the Republican Party A poll published Tuesday by The Economist and YouGov found that 58 percent of US respondents disapprove of Trump's job performance Trump cited his 'no tax on tips' policy (allowing a tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips) and fossil fuel deregulation as achievements to be showcased The convention will take place less than five months before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections The Democratic Party held midterm conventions until 1982 but has since abandoned them The Democratic National Committee explored but rejected holding a midterm convention in March 2026 The Republican National Committee approved a rule in January 2026 to allow the midterm convention Some critics fear the midterm convention could divert resources from key battlegrounds in the final stretch of the race The convention will shine a spotlight on Trump at a moment when his poll numbers are drooping Democratic officials compared the event to the Great American State Fair and questioned its strategic necessity Trump has expressed concern about potential impeachment if Congress flips to Democratic control
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Trump announced the Republican Party will hold its first-ever midterm convention on September 9-10 in Dallas, Texas, ahead of November 2026 elections
- The convention aims to highlight Republican achievements, including Trump's 'no tax on tips' policy and fossil fuel deregulation
- Critics worry the event could divert resources from key races in the final stretch and elevate Trump's profile when his approval ratings are declining (58% disapproval)
- Democrats have historically abandoned midterm conventions as resource-inefficient; the Democratic National Committee rejected the concept in March 2026
- The 2026 midterms will likely function as a referendum on Trump's second term, with Republican control of Congress at stake and Trump facing potential impeachment threats if Democrats gain power