US President Donald Trump placed his administration’s record at the heart of the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention Wednesday, urging voters to support GOP candidates as the party prepares for November’s congressional elections.
The two-day gathering in Dallas is designed partly as a rally and fundraiser, with Trump delivering the keynote address Wednesday and Vice President JD Vance scheduled to speak Thursday before Trump gives closing remarks. Members of Trump’s Cabinet are also addressing the convention.
Trump has argued that Republicans’ best chance of retaining or expanding their congressional majorities is to campaign on his record, despite his declining approval ratings.
He highlighted his administration’s policies on the economy, immigration and investment while also defending his decision to join Israel in striking Iran, which has pushed up energy prices and weighed on financial markets.
Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had caused oil prices to rise but said the conflict was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He asked the crowd whether Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, drawing a loud “no” in response.
Trump also claimed that prescription drug prices had fallen by as much as 600%, a mathematically impossible assertion because a price cannot be reduced by more than 100%.
He said Americans could receive $5,000 each if Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress, describing the proposed payments as “Trump dividends,” though details about how such payments would work remain unclear.
Trump also claimed that more than $20 trillion had been invested in the United States during his administration, potentially rising to $25 trillion. The White House website cites a much lower figure of $11.2 trillion, which also appears to include some commitments made under President Joe Biden.
On immigration, Trump repeated his claim that 25 million undocumented immigrants entered the United States under the previous administration. US Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 10.8 million arrests for illegal crossings from Mexico between January 2021 and December 2024, though the number of arrests does not represent the number of individual people.
Trump also falsely claimed that he had won the presidency three times, including in 2020. Biden won that election with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232.
He urged Republicans to vote in November and said he wanted to reverse the historical trend in which the president’s party loses congressional seats during midterm elections.
“We’re going to change that,” Trump said.
The president also said he planned to return to Texas to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, promising to visit the state as many as three times if necessary.
Paxton, speaking at the convention, asked supporters for prayers, votes and financial support in his race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
The convention also featured Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and other senior Republicans, who praised Trump’s policies and warned that Democrats would reverse his administration’s achievements.
Bessent highlighted the Trump Accounts programme, while Blanche praised the administration’s approach to crime and public safety. Blanche’s appearance drew attention because Justice Department leaders traditionally avoid partisan political events.
Trump’s supporters also filled the American Airlines Center, with attendees waving US flags and holding signs promoting the Republican agenda.
The event has drawn unusual participation from outside the party. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a video supporting Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, saying he would work with Trump to defend the US steel industry.
Meanwhile, the convention also featured attacks on Democrats over immigration and a tribute to Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student whose death became a central issue in Republican immigration messaging.
The gathering comes as Republicans seek to overcome the traditional midterm disadvantage faced by the president’s party and use Trump’s political influence to boost candidates across the country.