GOP launches midterm 'Trumpapalooza' convention in Dallas

DALLAS – A House Republican representing the New York City suburbs is calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to skip the Sept. 11 memorial in downtown Manhattan.

"From my vantage point, I don't think he should be there, and I think most New Yorkers agree that he should not be there," Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Fox News and Fox News Digital.

"Certainly, the 9/11 families and the first responders believe he should not be there."Political rancor is threatening to cast a long shadow over this year's Sept. 11 remembrance events, marking 25 years since the tragedy that rocked the United States. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's past rhetoric and links to terror sympathizers are spurring intense backlash ahead of the city's events memorializing the World Trade Center attacks, with Republicans and people whose lives were changed by the attacks demanding he not show his face.

Vice President JD Vance discusses President Donald Trump’s headline speech at the 2026 GOP midterm convention and contrasts the GOP’s message with Democrats’ on ‘Hannity.’

EXCLUSIVE: A GOP insider making the conservative case for regulating artificial intelligence development predicts President Donald Trump’s full-throated support for data center expansion will soon change after he hears from the American people on the midterm campaign trail.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Amy Kremer, a close Trump ally, Republican National Committee member and founder of "Humans First," warned that the voice of the average American is being left out of the ongoing AI data center debate. She believes that is about to change as the president prepares to hit the campaign trail in support of Republicans ahead of the midterms this fall.

Right now, Kremer asserted that Trump is "only hearing one side of the story from big tech."

"He's getting ready to go out on the campaign trail, and I think he's going to hear more from the American people on the data center side of things. And I hope he does," she said, adding, "I know the president, and his heart, and he would not like the way the Americans are being treated."

Kremer was pivotal in founding the modern Tea Party movement and through the years established several pro-Trump political action committees, including the "Great America PAC," the first and largest grassroots organization founded in 2016 to support then-candidate Trump.

Now, she is the chairwoman of "Humans First," a political group calling for an "America First approach to AI" that it says would keep the U.S. ahead of China while protecting American families, communities and jobs.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Peter Pinedo.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune discussed the Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, as well as the RNC convention, on "America’s Newsroom."

President Donald Trump’s vowed to issue to Americans a $5,000 "dividend" that could cost the federal government more than $1 trillion — but it's contingent on Republicans retaining control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump made the pledge Wednesday night during his nearly two-hour speech at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, promising to issue the payment to every adult citizen if the GOP wins both the House and Senate in November.

"Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," Trump said.

The president's proposal comes as the national debt hovers just north of $40 trillion and the federal government recorded a budget deficit of roughly $1.8 trillion in fiscal year 2025, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The payments could cost approximately $1.2 trillion, based on the roughly 240 million adult citizens in the United States, potentially adding significantly to the government’s eye-watering borrowing.

It's unclear where the money would come from, but the motivation behind the idea is crystal clear — Trump wants to incentivize voters who are feeling a pocketbook squeeze to keep his party in power so his agenda is not brought to a screeching halt should one of the congressional chambers flip blue in this year's midterms.

Vice President JD Vance suggested after Trump's speech that wealthy Americans could be excluded from the payments, potentially reducing the plan’s overall cost.

"What the president is talking about is fundamentally a dividend for American workers," Vance told Fox News.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias.

DALLAS, Texas – A year after the shocking assassination of conservative titan and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Republicans gathered at the GOP's midterm convention shared the profound ways in which the young leader and family man impacted their lives.

"Charlie Kirk is a wonderful man, and he is very much missed," Marsha Landry of Texas told Fox News Digital during an interview at the American Airlines Center, where the Republican Party is rallying to try to keep control of the House and Senate in November. "He was making a lot of progress in this country, especially among the youth. I know personally some of our children have really started paying attention."

Jacquez Jones, a young convention attendee, said Kirk's legacy lives on.

"It's a daily reminder that we have to have courage to go out there and spread the message, not only of just conservatism, but our faith as well," he said. "And so on this anniversary, I look back at not only what Charlie Kirk was able to accomplish, but the things that even in his passing he's still able to do."

On this day last year, Kirk, 31, was speaking at Turning Point's "American Comeback Tour" event at the Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, just after noon, when he was shot in the neck. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly thereafter.

The suspect in the killing, then-22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is accused of firing one shot from a rooftop overlooking the quad where Kirk was speaking. A shocked crowd scattered as Kirk was rushed away from the scene.

Kirk, who was a father, left behind his wife Erika and two young children.

"I think it's an extremely somber reminder of what we have in this country, that free speech is not free, that somebody died for that right, and Charlie Kirk [was] somebody who was brave enough to go out there on the college campuses and talk about conservatism and prove to the American people and the young generation that the conservative policies still work," Jones said.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Peter D'Abrosca

Vice President JD Vance will address the delegations from four major battleground states during a private breakfast on Thursday, Fox News has learned.

The state delegations include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. They will meet with the vice president in Dallas before night two of the GOP Midterm Convention kicks off.

Vance previously addressed the full convention on Wednesday night, followed by a surprise appearance by President Donald Trump.

Trump is scheduled to give the keynote address once again on Thursday.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

DALLAS — Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is urging voters to ignore the Republicans' first-ever midterm convention.

"Voters can see through the BS that Republicans are spewing," Pritzker told reporters at a Democratic National Committee-hosted counter programming news conference across the street from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the site of this week’s first-ever Republican midterm convention.

With less than two months until the midterm elections — and early voting just weeks away — President Donald Trump and the GOP kicked off their convention Wednesday as Republicans fight to keep control of Congress.

The GOP's playbook for the convention, which comes as Republicans face energized Democrats and political headwinds as they defend their slim House and Senate majorities, is to motivate the party's base and boost turnout in key races that will determine control of Congress.

"We are putting the president on the ballot," Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Joe Gruters emphasized in a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the gathering. "That's exactly what we're doing with this midterm convention."

But Pritzker, a potential 2028 White House contender, blasted the two-day GOP confab.

"This bizarre Republican midterm convention here can't paper over the fact that Republicans have done nothing to earn your vote," Pritzker said. 

"Donald Trump is hoping that a flashy primetime event will make you forget that, well, his trade war is killing costs for families at the grocery store. His war in Iran is killing ranchers and farmers and their way of life, and his war on people, on the working people, the working families of this country are raising the costs of health care and housing."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser.

President Donald Trump hailed the first night of the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas a "major" success on Thursday.

Trump claimed the event got more viewers than the NFL throughout Wednesday night and said he would be back again for night two on Thursday.

"The Republican Midterm Convention last night, in Dallas, was a major, sold out hit, far bigger, better, and more important than anyone thought possible. It was really something, streaming all over the place, and really big numbers, despite going up against the NFL. The overall numbers beat the NFL," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"The Arena, which was really nice, beat its own attendance records. The place was packed! There were thousands of people outside who couldn’t get in. Screens were provided. I guess people LOVE TRUMP POLITICS! I’ll be there again tonight to close out the show. Exciting 'Stuff!'" he added.

DALLAS — Facing a difficult political environment as Republicans fight to hold their congressional majorities, President Donald Trump used his address at the first-ever GOP midterm convention to unveil an unusual offer: a $5,000 dividend for every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans hold their House and Senate majorities.

With less than two months until the midterm elections — and early voting just weeks away — Trump and Republican leaders on the first night of the two-day convention used their speeches to showcase policy wins and paint Democratic Party politicians as far-left radicals.

Facing energized Democrats and stiff political headwinds, Trump and Republicans are using the gathering at the American Airlines Center in Dallas to motivate the party's MAGA base and boost turnout in key races that will determine control of Congress.

"I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot," the president urged, as he rallied his supporters.

Here are five takeaways from night one at what's been described by Republican leaders as a "Trumpapalooza.

Trump's offer to Americans

Nearly an hour into his address, Trump unveiled what he described as "the best part of the speech," direct payments to the Americans funded by tariff revenues if Republicans retain control of Congress.

"If the Republicans win the ​House of Representatives and the United States Senate, ⁠ both of them," Trump announced, "because of our ​tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a ​dividend to every ‌adult citizen in the United States of ⁠ America for $5,000."

The president didn't reveal any other details, other than to add, "The only caveat I have is ​that the dividend that we're making must be spent in the ‌United States of America."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser.

The RNC Midterm Convention crowds rose for a standing ovation for Erika Kirk before breaking into chants of her late husband's name after President Donald Trump recognized her from the stage on Tuesday night.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, spoke with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas after his viral patriotic land acknowledgement at the event.

"It's only appropriate that we kick this off with a land acknowledgment," Gill said, spoofing a yearslong trend in left-wing politics. "I'd like to acknowledge that we stand here today in the great state of Texas and the United States of America-- the ancestral homeland of great American patriots, pioneers and explorers... who bled and died to build the greatest civilization known to man."

Gill said he and other Republicans are "done apologizing for our country."

After President Donald Trump pledged $5,000 payouts to American adults if Republicans win the House and Senate during the upcoming elections, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said that he will prepare legislation so that GOP lawmakers can "immediately" green light "the Trump Dividend" on the heels of the midterms.

"I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election … because Republicans (and America) will win!" Moreno wrote in a post on X.

During remarks at the GOP midterm convention on Wednesday, Trump said that he "will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000 dollars" if Republicans win both chambers of Congress during the midterms.

"So if the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000 dollars. It will be called the Trump dividend," he said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of seeking to purchase Americans' votes with "blood money," calling him the "most corrupt" president ever.

The Democrat made the comments in response to the president's pledge that he "will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000" if Republicans win both chambers of Congress during the midterm elections.

Newsom wrote in a post on X, "After making you sicker and poorer with his war, Donald Trump now wants to buy your vote with $5,000 in taxpayer-funded blood money. The most corrupt man ever to occupy the Oval Office."

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the war against Iran will be finished after the upcoming midterm elections and that he believes the Middle Eastern nation wants Republicans to lose.

"The war will be over very shortly after the election," Trump said at the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating comments he made to reporters earlier in the day.

"They're hanging out for dear life, hoping that we lose so they can deal with dumb, weak Democrats, and they can have their nuclear bomb. But we're not going to let that happen. So they're going to be quitting or dropping out or whatever it is right after election day because they desperately want to deal with Democrats," he continued.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Republicans will pass legislation to stop billions of dollars in extra government subsidy payments to big insurance companies and instead send that money to eligible Americans to purchase health insurance.

Trump made the comments during the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas.

"We'll pass the Great Healthcare Plan to stop all government payments to the big insurance companies, which, by the way, the insurance companies own the Democrats, and give the money directly to the people for you to go out and buy your own healthcare," Trump said.

"You'll get much better healthcare and have money left over for yourselves," he continued.

President Donald Trump mocked Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's appearance during the GOP Midterm Convention Wednesday night, comparing the state lawmaker to Mad magazine character Alfred E. Neuman before attacking his political and religious views.

“Democrats have nominated James Tala-Freak-O for the Senate. And he is a weird-looking dude,” Trump told the crowd in Dallas. “I mean, I don't like talking about looks, but there's something missing there.”

“Remember Mad magazine?” Trump added. “He looks to me just like Alfred Neuman, right?”

Trump then turned to Talarico's record, pointing to past comments the Democrat has made about capitalism, Texas' oil and gas industry, Christianity and gender.

“He stated that he wants to totally dismantle capitalism, dismantle, quote, ‘capitalism.’ He described himself as a person who hates Christianity, says that God is transgender. He called the American flag a complicated symbol of hate, claimed that the Ten Commandments are a form of fascism, and when he was asked what he loved most in the world, he said, ‘I love transgender children,’” Trump said. "He was also somebody that hated eating meat.”

Talarico said during a 2020 Sierra Club forum that capitalism was among several “oppressive systems” that needed to be dismantled and predicted that Texas' oil and gas industry was “not gonna last.” His campaign has since described him as a “proud capitalist” and said he supports the oil and gas industry.

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who frequently discusses his Christian faith, has also said that “God is non-binary” while defending transgender children. Trump's characterization that Talarico “hates Christianity” was not a direct quote from Talarico.

Trump ultimately urged Texas voters to defeat Talarico in November as Republicans seek to hold the Senate seat.

“There is a crazy little sick cloud over our country,” Trump told Republicans gathered for the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas. “We have to make sure ... we will defeat communism in America and vote for American freedom.”

President Donald Trump blamed former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, now running for U.S. Senate, for policies he argued allowed the man accused of killing Iryna Zarutska to remain on the streets before she was fatally stabbed.

“Roy Cooper will make North Carolina a killing field, and he's a radical left politician posing as a moderate,” Trump said Wednesday.

Zarutska was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light-rail train in August 2025 while returning home from work. Decarlos Brown Jr., who had a lengthy criminal record, was arrested and charged in her killing.

“And I just want to pay my condolences to the mother of Iryna, who is living in hell right now,” Trump said during his address at the GOP Midterm Convention. “Her daughter would be alive today if North Carolina had a different governor, because that animal would have been in prison, or worse, he wouldn't have been let go to be on the streets and be in a train sitting right behind that beautiful young lady.”

Brown had been arrested in January 2025 on a misdemeanor charge of misusing the 911 system and was released on a written promise to appear in court.

Brown's inmate number later appeared on a list associated with a 2021 COVID-19 prison settlement reached during Cooper's administration, prompting Republicans to accuse the former governor of being responsible for Brown's release.

However, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has said Brown was not released early because of the settlement. State officials said Brown had completed his minimum prison sentence and was released from prison in 2020, months before the settlement was reached. Officials said his later inclusion on the settlement-related list stemmed from his post-release supervision status.

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje praised President Donald Trump after an “epic” fight at the White House, saying the president has done “phenomenal things” for mixed martial arts.Gaethje was among the UFC fighters and guests who attended the event, which Trump hosted on the White House grounds.

More than 1,000 U.S. service members were also invited to watch the fight.“President Trump has done phenomenal things for MMA,” Gaethje said, praising the president for bringing the sport to the White House and including American troops in the event.Trump has maintained a close relationship with UFC President Dana White, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024 and has repeatedly praised the president’s support for the sport.

The White House fight was part of Trump’s broader effort to bring high-profile sporting events to prominent national venues. The president has also promoted plans for future events as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.