Dallas —
For a decade, President Donald Trump has made himself his party’s main character — a singular force around whom its rallies, conventions and political identity have revolved.
Republicans are taking that devotion a step further this week, gathering in the Lone Star State at Trump’s behest for an unprecedented midterm convention conceived by him and to celebrate him. Trump will appear both nights of the event and watch from a suite as the loyalty from party leaders and allies is on display.
But hanging over what may be the party’s most overt Trumpfest yet is an increasingly unavoidable reality: It could also be one of the last.
In 55 days, voters will decide who controls Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency, with his unpopularity driving fierce headwinds against his party (and prompting some Republicans to skip the festivities in Dallas). Soon after, attention will inevitably begin shifting toward the Republicans jockeying to succeed him, while Trump faces for the first time a long countdown to leaving power.
