Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 10: US President Donald Trump has placed himself at the centre of the November midterm elections after delivering the keynote speech on the opening night of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, despite not being on the ballot.
The first-of-its-kind convention on Wednesday came as Republicans face a difficult battle to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Losing either chamber would significantly limit Trump's political power.
"When I'm on the ticket, Republicans always do very well," Trump told supporters at the American Airlines Center. "But for some reason, when a president wins... even if he's a really good or great president, they don't win the midterms."
"We're gonna change that," he said, urging supporters to "pretend that I'm on the ballot."
Vice President JD Vance had initially been scheduled to headline the opening night, but Trump took his place in the programme. No reason was given for the last-minute change. The convention was scheduled to continue for a second day on Thursday.
Trump's decision to organise a midterm convention and make himself its central figure has been viewed as a political gamble, particularly as his approval ratings have declined amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
Trump said he would play a major role in the final stages of the campaign and pointed to around 35 of the most competitive races.
"We can win every one of those races," he said. "But I'm going to every one of those states for congressman and for senators."
"We are going to have rallies just like this."
The move may not be welcomed by all Republican candidates in closely contested races. Some have chosen to campaign in their own districts instead of attending the Dallas event, while political strategists have warned that a close association with Trump could potentially mobilise Democratic voters.
Trump also pledged a $5,000 "dividend" for all adult citizens if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress, though questions remain over whether the president has the legal authority to deliver such a payment.
The war on Iran has emerged as a major political challenge for the Trump administration ahead of the midterms. On Wednesday, Brent crude oil prices crossed $100 a barrel for the first time since July as the conflict entered its seventh month.
Polls have indicated widespread disapproval of the war and its economic consequences. However, most speakers before Trump did not mention the conflict, which appeared only briefly in a video montage during the official programme.
Trump defended his handling of the war, claiming the United States was "winning" and had control of the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran continuing to restrict transit through the strategic waterway.
He again floated his proposal to rename the Strait of Hormuz the "Trump Strait". He also suggested the possibility of further military escalation, including a potential strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.
The convention is also serving as a platform to introduce Republican candidates to major donors. J Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, described Texas as a major centre of Republican campaign fundraising.
Several Republicans facing competitive races addressed the convention, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is trailing Democratic challenger James Talarico in polls.
A Talarico victory would mark the first time a Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.
Paxton urged Republicans to support him, describing Talarico as the "most radical Democrat in Texas history" while acknowledging his strong financial backing.
Trump also singled out Paxton for praise, calling him the "greatest attorney general in America".
Other candidates featured at the convention included Republican Representative Monica de La Cruz, who faces a close challenge from musician Bobby Pulido in a Texas border district, Ohio Senator Jon Husted, who is contesting against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, and Republican Mike Collins, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia.
Pro-Israel Democratic Senator John Fetterman also made a surprise video appearance to introduce Republican Senator Dave McCormick. Neither Fetterman nor McCormick is contesting the November election.
The opening night also highlighted the Republican themes expected to dominate the final phase of the midterm campaign, including immigration, tax cuts and Trump's signature One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year.
Speakers repeatedly praised Trump's immigration policies, including the effective closure of the southern border and the administration's mass deportation campaign.
Republicans also focused heavily on the Democratic Party's perceived shift to the left during the primary season, citing victories by progressive candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and several candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Speakers repeatedly portrayed the election as a contest between "mainstream" America and "radicals", "socialists" and "communists", although no candidate currently running for either party identifies as a communist.
Republican Representative Brandon Gill described the election as "mainstream versus the extreme" and criticised Democratic candidates in New York and Michigan.
The event's atmosphere was closer to a Trump rally than a traditional party convention, with several senior Trump appointees, including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also taking the stage.
Despite the show of support for Trump, political analysts pointed to growing challenges for Republicans. The non-partisan Decision Desk HQ on Monday shifted its forecast for control of the Senate to a "pure toss-up", while Democrats remain widely favoured to regain control of the House.
The situation is particularly challenging for Republicans in Texas, where polls have consistently shown Talarico ahead of Paxton despite Trump's endorsement of Paxton in May.
Evan Roth Smith, a founding partner at Slingshot Strategies, said Paxton was now trailing outside the margin of error, while Talarico was moving closer to the 50 percent mark.
The US midterm elections are scheduled for November, with control of both chambers of Congress at stake.