Trump, Vance rally Republicans at convention as party faces midterm test — SkimNews
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- Trump closed the Republicans' two-night midterm convention in Dallas with a $5,000-per-American-adult promise that could cost more than $1 trillion and was roundly panned — even by some Republicans.
- Vance, in a primetime slot right before Trump, slammed Democrats as "the party of hatred" and used the keynote to hint at 2028 aspirations, mentioning his wife Usha and their fourth child.
- No Going Back PAC, connected to Trump's MAGA Inc., reserved more than $68 million for midterm advertising, while Vance — who also serves as RNC finance chair — raised $2 million at a Dallas fundraiser.
- Trump led the crowd in a repeat-after-me pledge to vote Nov. 3, telling supporters "you've got to do me the biggest favour you've ever done," as many Republicans skipped the convention altogether.
- The convention included tributes to Charlie Kirk (assassinated one year ago) and a moment marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks; pardoned Jan. 6 figure Stewart Rhodes appeared in attendance.
- House Democrats, led by Rep. Robert Garcia of California, blasted the event as "an opulent spectacle for an out-of-touch president," while protesters chanting "Donald Trump's not welcome here" were kept back by police.
Why it matters: With House and Senate majorities both at risk, Republicans are staking the midterms on $68 million in Trump-aligned PAC spending and Vance's emerging national profile — but Trump's $5,000 pledge already drew pushback from within his own party, and visible GOP no-shows underscore the difficulty of converting the president's personal base into down-ballot votes.
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