U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a "Steel Across America" event ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the Ellipse near the White House on September 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Finn Gomez / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
US Republicans open an extraordinary midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, betting that putting Donald Trump at the centre of their campaign can rescue a party facing grim election forecasts — despite the president’s deeply negative approval ratings.
The two-day gathering, dubbed “Trumpapalooza,” is designed to persuade the Republican leader’s supporters that he is effectively on the ballot on November 3, when Republicans risk losing the House of Representatives and face a fierce fight to retain the Senate.
“So what I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said recently at a rally in South Carolina. “Just come and vote. It’s so important.”
Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats to win the House 230-205 and the Senate to finish 51-49 in their favour — revising its 50-50 prediction as the outlook continues to worsen for Republicans.
