Republicans at their midterm convention know that history is not on their side this election season, but they are counting on President Donald Trump and his two-day extravaganza in Dallas to rally voters to protect their House and Senate majorities.
They spent the first night denouncing Democrats as extremists before Trump capped Wednesday with a speech saying the choice this election is “very, very simple” and making the outlandish promise of $5,000 to each American adult, if his party wins.
Such a proposal could cost more than $1 trillion at a time when the nation faces a record $40 trillion debt and even some Republicans balked at the idea of tying direct payments to election results. Joe Londsdale, a prominent donor and activist who supports much of what Trump has done in office, said on X that he is “strongly against bread and circus bribes.”
Thursday’s lineup is expected to feature many of the same themes and includes a keynote from Vice President JD Vance and closing remarks from Trump.
Republicans are trying to overcome voters’ concerns about the economy and the war with Iran, and many still see solidarity with Trump as their best shot at winning in November despite the president’s low approval ratings.
